American-Pima cotton production to grow significantly (USA)

The production of American-Pima cotton, predominantly grown in California State of the US, is likely to rise significantly this year over 2011, a report by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) states.

The report attributes the rise in production to an increase in area under Pima cotton cultivation, pushed by world demand and higher prices for quality Pima cotton.

As compared to last year, there has been a 51 percent rise in area under Pima cotton in California this year. With 274,000 acres under Pima cotton cultivation, California is likely to produce 785,000 cotton bales (1 bale = 480 pounds) this year, a year-on-year rise of 69 percent.

The average yield of American-Pima cotton in California is also expected to increase to 1,380 pounds per acre, a rise of 143 pounds over 2010.

The increase in Pima cotton output in California will boost the total Pima cotton production in the US to about 851,200 bales, which would be 69 percent higher than 2010. The report estimates the national yield to grow to 1,340 pounds per acre, 140 pounds higher than 2010.

However, the overall cotton production in the US for the current season is likely to witness a sharp 22 percent decline and is estimated to be around 15.6 million bales of 480 pounds each.

The huge dip in the US total cotton production is partially due to fall in Upland cotton production, which is expected to come to 14.7 million bales, 16 percent below 2010 cotton output.

The decline in cotton production in Upland region is because of farmers in this region are increasingly abandoning cotton cultivation and are shifting to other crops. The current cotton cultivation abandonment rate in this region is at a record high of 37 percent.