Nurturing India's Cotton Sector - UPSC

Current News:-

Union Minister of State for the Ministry of Textiles highlighted the significant strides taken to empower cotton farmers and promote the cotton sector.

What Are The Indian Government Initiatives Related To The Development of The Cotton Sector?

Cotton Development Programme Under National Food Security Mission (NFSM):

Implemented by the Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare in 15 major cotton-growing states: Assam, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Punjab, Rajasthan, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh & West Bengal from 2014-15.

Aims to enhance cotton production and productivity in major cotton-growing states.

Includes demonstrations, trials, distribution of plant protection chemicals, and training.

MSP Formula For Cotton

Introduced a formula of 1.5 times the cost of production (A2+FL) for Minimum Support Price (MSP) calculation.

Ensures economic interest of cotton farmers and availability of cotton to the textile industry.

Increases MSP rates to support farmers' income.

For cotton season 2022-23, MSP of Fair Average Quality (FAQ) grade cotton had increased by about 6% which has further been increased by 9% to 10% for ensuing cotton season 2023-24.

Cotton Corporation of India (CCI)

Appointed as a Central Nodal agency for MSP operations when Fair Average Quality grade seed cotton (kapas) fall below the MSP rates.

Safeguards farmers from distress sales.

Branding And Traceability

Launched Kasturi Cotton to promote Indian cotton with a brand name.

Aims to ensure quality, traceability, and branding of Indian cotton.

Large-Scale Demonstrations Project

Sanctioned by the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare under NFSM.

Focuses on best practices to enhance cotton productivity.

Focus on innovative technologies, such as High Density Planting System (HDPS) and the value chain approach.

Sanctioning of a project titled "Targeting technologies to agro-ecological zones large scale demonstrations of best practices to enhance cotton productivity."

Textile Advisory Group (TAG)

Constituted by the Ministry of Textiles to facilitate coordination among stakeholders in the cotton value chain.’

Addresses issues related to productivity, prices, branding, and more.

Cott-Ally Mobile App

Developed to provide farmers with knowledge through a user-friendly interface.

Key Features:

• MSP Rate Awareness.
• Nearest Procurement Centers.
• Payment Tracking.
• Best Farm Practices.

Committee on Cotton Promotion and Consumption (COCPC)

Ensures availability of cotton to the textile industry.

Monitors cotton scenario and advises the government on production and consumption matters.

What Are The Key Facts About Cotton

Kharif Crop which requires 6 to 8 months to mature.

Drought–resistant crop ideal for arid climates.

Occupies 2.1% of the world’s arable land, meets 27% of the world’s textiles needs.

Temperature: Between 21-30°C.

Rainfall: Around 50-100 cm.

Soil Type: Well-drained black cotton soil (Regur Soil) (E.g. Soil of Deccan Plateau)

Products: fibre, oil and animal feed.

Top Cotton Producing Countries: India > China > USA

Top Cotton Producing States in India: Gujarat > Maharashtra > Telangana > Rajasthan>Andhra Pradesh

Four Cultivated Species of Cotton: Gossypium arboreum, G.herbaceum, G.hirsutum and G.barbadense.

Gossypium arboreum and G.herbaceum are known as old-world cotton or Asiatic cotton.

G.hirsutum is also known as American cotton or upland cotton and G.barbadense as Egyptian cotton. These are both new world cotton species.