Recently, on the occasion of the 2nd World Cotton Day on October 7th, 2020, the Union Minister for Textiles unveiled a logo and brand for Indian cotton. Kasturi Cotton, as it is called, will be initially applicable to the long-staple cotton variety grown in India, provided it meets the prescribed standards.
World Cotton Day: A Brief Overview
Launched by the World Trade Organisation in 2019, the World Cotton Day was started on the initiative of Cotton-4 (Benin, Burkina Faso, Chad, and Mali). The event takes place in collaboration with several international organizations such as the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), the International Trade Centre (ITC), and the International Cotton Advisory Committee (ICAC). The theme for 2020 was “Cotton: The Fibre that Moves Me”.
About Cotton: An Important Crop World Over
Dependent on specific environmental conditions, cotton is a kharif crop that takes between 6 to 8 months to mature and is resistant to drought. It requires temperatures between 21-30°C, rainfall around 50-100cm, and thrives on well-drained black cotton soil, also known as Regur Soil. Cotton, grown on 2.1% of the world’s arable land, fulfills about 27% of the world’s textile needs. Apart from fibre, this crop is also used in the production of oil and animal feed.
Cotton Production: Global and National Scenario
When it comes to cotton production, China tops the chart, followed by India and the USA. In India, the top cotton-producing states are Gujarat, Maharashtra, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and Rajasthan. There are four major cultivated cotton species: Gossypium arboreum, G.herbaceum, G.hirsutum, and G.barbadense. The first two are known as old-world or Asiatic cotton while the latter two are called new world cotton species.
Indian Cotton: A Dominant Player in the Economy
Being an essential fibre and cash crop, cotton indeed plays a crucial role in shaping India’s agricultural and industrial economy. India stands as the largest producer and consumer of cotton in the world and the third-largest exporter. Since their introduction in 2002, genetically modified pest-resistant Bt cotton hybrids have covered over 95% of the area under cotton cultivation in India.
Government Initiatives for Cotton Cultivation
The government of India has launched several initiatives to boost cotton production. Under the 12th Five Year Plan, the National Food Security Mission-Commercial Crops (NFSM-CC) was launched. It adopted a cropping system that included commercial crops like cotton, jute, and sugarcane. Created by the Ministry of Textiles in collaboration with APEDA, under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, a certification system for organic cotton production is also in place.
The Role of the Cotton Corporation of India
Set up in 1970, the Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) operates under the administrative control of the Ministry of Textiles. Its primary role includes undertaking price support operations whenever the market prices of cotton fall below the Minimum Support Prices (MSP).
Cotton Research in India
To further enhance cotton production, the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has set up the Central Institute for Cotton Research with campuses in Nagpur and Sirsa. It also established the ICAR-Central Institute for Research on Cotton Technology in Mumbai.
These initiatives are designed to help India maintain its dominant position in the global cotton market and contribute significantly to supporting the livelihood of farmers engaged in cotton cultivation.
