Recently, at the 81st International Cotton Advisory Committee (ICAC) plenary in Mumbai, India's Minister for Textiles, Commerce, and Industry announced the country's ambition to become the world's leading cotton producer, noting India's status as having the largest cotton cultivation area and being the second-largest producer.
Cotton production in India has been in the news as the Cotton Association of India (CAI) estimates a 15-year low of 29.51 million bales for the 2023–24 season. This decline is attributed to a 5.5% decrease in sowing area and a yield drop of up to 20% due to unfavorable El Niño weather and a severe pink bollworm infestation in North India.
COTTON:
Cotton is one of the most important cash crops in India and accounts for around 25% of the total global fibre production.
As of 2022, India was the third-largest exporter of cotton in the world.
Cotton constitutes 59% of the raw material consumption of the Indian textile industry.
It plays a major role in sustaining the livelihood of an estimated 6 million cotton farmers and 40-50 million people engaged in related activity such as cotton processing & trade.
Due to its economic importance in India, cotton is also termed as "White-Gold".
Climatic requirements for the growth of cotton:
Temperature: Between 21-30°C
Rainfall: Around 50-100cm.
Soil Type: Well-drained black cotton soil of Deccan Plateau.
India has the distinction of having the largest area under cotton cultivation in the world i.e. about 126.07 lakh hectares which is 37% of the world area.
Around 67% of India’s cotton is grown on rain-fed areas and 33% on irrigated area.
In India, majority of the cotton production comes from ten major cotton growing states, which are grouped into three diverse agro-ecological zones, as under:-
Northern Zone - Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan
Central Zone - Gujarat, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh
Southern Zone - Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Tamil nadu
Cotton cultivation has also gained momentum in small areas of non-traditional States such as Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Tripura, etc.
ISSUES ASSOCIATED WITH INDIA'S COTTON PRODUCTION:
Low Productivity:
The Cotton Association of India (CAI) estimates that the per hectare productivity of cotton in India during 2018-19 stands at a mere 420.72 kgs, which is about 2.47 bales per hectare.
It is only one third of other major cotton producing countries.
The evidence shows that the High-Density planting model has higher productivity than planting hybrids or Bt Cotton.
Currently, Indian cotton farmers sow bushy-type, long-duration hybrid cotton seeds at a large spacing accommodating fewer plants per acre and harvest seed cotton 3–4 times in a season spanning 180–280 days in different cotton growing zones.
Irrigation:
Approximately 67% of India’s Cotton is produced on rain-fed areas.
The long-duration hybrids of India are more prone to changes in the rainfall pattern. The shorter duration variety could have reduced the dependence on irrigation.
Insect attack:
The long duration hybrids are more vulnerable to damage from insect pests.
Also, there were reports of the resurgence of pink bollworms in India’s cotton fields.
The new tobacco streak virus disease and boll rot have recently threatened cotton farmers. The white-fly transmission of a severe cotton leaf curl virus and the sudden outbreak of para wilt have worsened the situation for North Zone farmers.
Seed production:
For GM Cotton, farmers are forced to purchase seeds for each planting, as the seeds are designed to last for less than a year.
This gives an unfair advantage for seed companies in regulating the price and availability of seeds.
Excessive use of inputs:
Cotton alone uses more than half the chemical pesticides used in the entire agricultural production in India.
Rising demand compels cotton growers to adopt unsustainable methods, which may pose serious challenges to the environment through the excessive use of inputs like water, fertilizers, and pesticides.
Cost:
The input cost is high resulting from seed purchase, fertilizers, ensuring irrigation etc.
EXPERIENCE WITH BT COTTON:
The introduction of Bt cotton in India in 2002 aimed to increase crop protection from bollworms and reduce insecticide use.
This genetically modified cotton significantly boosted production from 130 lakh to 370 lakh bales by 2017, contributing to a surge in cotton exports to $8 billion.
However, the production increase wasn't solely due to improved productivity, but also to factors like expanded cultivation area, increased fertilizer use, and enhanced irrigation.
Over time, pest resistance to Bt cotton has grown, resulting in crop failures and higher pesticide usage. Additionally, the inability of farmers to reuseseeds from Bt cotton, forcing them to buy expensive new seeds each year, has led to financial stress and an increase in farmer suicides.
WAY FORWARD:
High Density Planting System (HDPS):
The cropping system of cotton must gradually undergo a systematic change to high density planting system (HDPS), which is a new cropping system of accommodating more plants per unit area supported by technological inputs for weed management, defoliation and mechanical picking.
Adopting High density planting of compact varieties with proper pest-management approaches can increase productivity. For example, some of the major cotton-producing countries such as Brazil (until 2012) and Turkey (up to the present) have achieved high productivity without the use of GM cotton by using alternative pest-management approaches.
Technology:
Before extending next generation traits like Bt3, Bt4, Herbicide Tolerance etc impact assessment studies must be carried out.
Irrigation:
Expansion of irrigation under Prime Minister’s Krishi Vikas Yojana is critical to overcome the dependence on rain water for irrigation.
Seed:
Public sector production of seeds can check monopoly and profiteering by private companies.
Also, the government-led policy paradigm on cotton must give way to progressive, evidence-based policies on the pricing of seeds and safeguarding intellectual property, not only for biotech traits under the Indian Patent Act but also ensuring the rights of breeders and farmers under the Protection of Plant Variety and Farmers Rights Act (PPVFRA).
Policy:
There is a need for better consultation in policy to deliberate upon the inclusion of socio-economic considerations while assessing risk associated with genetically modified crops.
CONCLUSION:
In summary, India's future in cotton production depends on sustainable and innovative practices. Addressing challenges like low productivity and pest issues through High Density Planting Systems, better irrigation, and responsible use of genetically modified crops is essential. Prioritizing farmer-centric and environmentally sound policies will be crucial in strengthening India's position as a global leader in cotton production.
PRACTICE QUESTION:
Q. What are the challenges associated with cotton farming in India? . Suggest measures to boost cotton production in the country. (15 marks, 250 words)
