The Ministry of Textiles, in partnership with the Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) and EU-Resource Efficiency Initiative, recently celebrated World Cotton Day on 7th October 2023. The commemoration was marked by a conference that shed light on sustainable methods and best practices in the cotton value chain. The highlight of the conference was the unveiling of the ‘Bale Identification and Traceability System’ (BITS) and the launch of the ‘Kasturi Cotton Program.’
The History of World Cotton Day
The first World Cotton Day was organised by the World Trade Organisation (WTO) on October 7, 2019. The initiative was led by the Cotton-4 nations, namely Benin, Burkina Faso, Chad, and Mali.
Bale Identification and Traceability System (BITS)
This technology-based initiative in the cotton industry utilises Blockchain Technology to assign unique QR codes to cotton bales, effectively tracing their journey from origin to final product. The objective of BITS is to ensure transparency and easy accessibility of key information such as quality, variety, origin, and processing details to both domestic and international buyers. With a simple scan of the QR code, stakeholders including cotton buyers, textile manufacturers among others can trace the history of the cotton bale. The system is being implemented by CCI in collaboration with other relevant stakeholders such as State Governments.
Kasturi Cotton Program
With the intent of amplifying the production and availability of premium quality cotton, the Ministry of Textiles introduced the Kasturi Cotton Program. This initiative, overseen by TEXPROCIL and CCI on behalf of the Ministry, assures traceability of cotton. Kasturi Cotton isn’t ordinary cotton; it is certified to meet certain standards of quality which include fibre length, strength, colour, amongst other parameters that deem it suitable for high-end textile products.
Key Facts about Cotton
Cotton is a Kharif Crop requiring 6 to 8 months to mature. It is a drought-resistant crop, ideal for arid climates. Globally, it occupies 2.1% of the world’s arable land and meets 27% of the world’s textile needs. The best growth conditions are temperatures between 21-30°C, rainfall around 50-100 cm, and well-drained black cotton soil (Regur Soil), such as the one found in the Deccan Plateau. Cotton yields fibre, oil, and animal feed.
Cotton Production Statistics
India leads in global cotton production, followed by China and the US. In India, Gujarat tops the chart, followed by Maharashtra, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and Rajasthan. Four cultivated species of cotton exist: Gossypium arboreum, G.herbaceum, G.hirsutum, and G.barbadense. The first two species are known as old-world or Asiatic cotton, with the latter two known as new world cotton species – American cotton or upland cotton and Egyptian cotton, respectively. Certain types of cotton are produced by genetically altering two parent strains embodying different genetic characters. These hybrids occasionally occur spontaneously in nature when open-pollinated plants naturally cross-pollinate with related varieties. An example of this is Bt Cotton, a genetically modified organism or pest-resistant cotton variety.
UPSC Civil Services Examination Previous Year Questions on Cotton
The text concludes with three previous year questions from the UPSC Civil Services Examination related to cotton cultivation, its properties, and the characteristics of states producing it.
