Errors in cotton forecasts and their economic implications: can new technology help?

Abstract

Inaccurate and biased information on acreage and production of cotton has often in the past led to misleading assessments of value addition of cotton leading to artificial shortages and production losses. New technology such as remote sensing based systems of estimating acreage and production which have been under development for some years may well provide the necessary tools for more accurate assessments and so to better planning for cotton.