Cotton production in Australia could fall by 50 percent next season if the ongoing drought continues, the industry predicted on Monday.

Australia is the world's third-biggest exporter producing about 4 million bales this year, however, output may fall to 2 million bales in 2014-2015, if Australia's drought persists.

Cotton Australia's chief executive, Adam Kay, told Xinhua that local farmers may plant less after if rains fails to fall.

"Unless we get some pretty serious rainfall in the next three months, we're going to see a reduction in area of planting due to lack of water," Kay said.

"But we still have time. It only takes a week for the dams to fill up again, so we still have time." Endi