Cotton Production in India | 14 Sep 2023

Source: IE

Why in News?

Cotton is a versatile crop that provides food, feed, and fiber for various uses, including textiles, cooking oil, and livestock feed. It is also a major source of income and employment for millions of farmers in India.

• However, in recent years, cotton production and yields have declined significantly, posing a challenge for the country’s agriculture and textile sectors.

What is the Significance of Cotton for India?

• About:
  • Cotton is one of the most important commercial crops cultivated in India and accounts for around 25% of the total global cotton production.
    • Due to its economic importance in India, it is also termed as “White-Gold”.
  • In India, around 67% of India’s cotton is grown on rain-fed areas and 33% on irrigated areas.
• Growing Conditions:
  • Cotton cultivation necessitates a hot, and sunny climate with a long frost-free period. It is most productive in warm and humid climatic conditions.
  • Cotton can be successfully grown in a range of soil types, including well-drained deep alluvial soils in northern regions, variable-depth black clayey soils in the central region, and mixed black and red soils in the southern zone.
    • While cotton exhibits some tolerance to salinity, it is highly sensitive to waterlogging, emphasizing the importance of well-drained soils in cotton farming.
• Species of Cultivated Cotton:
  • India is the country to grow all four species of cultivated cotton Gossypium arboreum and Herbaceum (Asian cotton), G.barbadense (Egyptian cotton) and G. hirsutum (American Upland cotton).
  • 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
• Significance:
  • Cotton, often likened to coconut, serves as a source of three essential components:
    • Fiber: The white fluffy fiber or lint, constituting about 36% of the raw unginned cotton, is the primary source for the textile industry. The rest is seed (62%) and wastes (2%) separated from the lint during ginning.
      • Cotton commands a two-thirds share in India's total textile fiber consumption.
    • Food: Cottonseed contains 13% oil, which is commonly used for cooking and frying.
      • Cottonseed cake/meal is India's second-largest feed cake, following soybean.
    • Feed: The leftover cottonseed cake, comprising 85% of the seed, is a valuable, protein-rich feed ingredient for livestock and poultry.
      • Cottonseed oil ranks as the country's third-largest domestically-produced vegetable oil, following mustard and soybean.

What led to Rapid Increase and Subsequent Decline in Cotton Production in India?

• Surge:
  • Between 2000-01 and 2013-14, India witnessed a remarkable surge in cotton production, primarily attributed to Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) technology. Key developments include:
    • Adoption of genetically-modified (GM) cotton hybrids with Bt genes, designed to combat the American bollworm insect pest.
    • It led to a surge in lint yields from 278 kg per hectare in 2000-01 to 566 kg per hectare in 2013-14.
      • A corresponding increase in cottonseed oil and cake production.
    • However, the gains achieved through Bt technology were short-lived. Post-2013-14, cotton production and yields began to decline.

• Decline:
  • The primary factor responsible for decline was the emergence of the pink bollworm (Pectinophora gossypiella).
    • When pink bollworm(PBW) larvae invade cotton bolls, it causes cotton plants to produce less cotton and the cotton produced is of lower quality.
  • Unlike the polyphagous American bollworm, PBW is monophagous, feeding mainly on cotton, which contributed to the development of resistance against Bt proteins.
    • Continuous cultivation of Bt hybrids led to PBW populations developing resistance, replacing susceptible ones.
  • In 2014, Gujarat experienced an unusual surge in PBW larvae survival on cotton flowers 60-70 days after planting. In 2015, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Maharashtra also reported PBW infestations.
    • In 2021, even Punjab, Haryana and northern Rajasthan saw heavy infestation of the pest for the first time.

• Current Methods Employed to Manage the PBW Pest:
  • Traditional insecticides had limited success in controlling PBW larvae. Instead, a different method called "mating disruption" has been used.
    • It entails the use of Gossyplure, a pheromone signaling chemical that is secreted by female PBW moths to attract male adults. In this case, the pheromone is artificially synthesised and filled into pipes or lures.
      • This method hinders male moths from locating females and engaging in mating, thereby causing disruption in their reproductive cycle.
  • There are two approved products for mating disruptions:
    • PBKnot, which uses ropes with these chemicals on cotton plants to reduce infestation and boost yields.
    • SPLAT-PBW, which is a special emulsion that disrupts PBW mating with synthetic chemicals.

What are the Other Issues Associated with the Cotton Sector in India?

• Yield Fluctuations: Cotton production in India can be quite unpredictable due to several factors.
  • Limited access to irrigation systems, declining soil fertility, and erratic weather patterns, including unexpected droughts or excessive rainfall, contribute to the uncertainty surrounding cotton yields.
• Smallholder Dominance: The majority of cotton farming in India is carried out by small-scale farmers.
  • These farmers often rely on traditional agricultural practices and have limited access to modern farming technologies, which in turn affects overall cotton production.
• Limited Market Access: A significant number of cotton growers in India face constraints in reaching markets and are compelled to sell their harvest at reduced rates to intermediaries.

Way Forward

• Integrated Pest Management: There is a need to advocate for integrated pest management (IPM) strategies that combine natural controls, trap crops, and beneficial insects to reduce pesticide dependency while effectively managing pests.
• Community-Based Seed Banks: Establishing seed banks at the community level to conserve and share traditional cotton seed varieties, preserving genetic diversity and promoting higher-yielding strains.
• Market Linkage Platforms: Establishing digital platforms that directly connect cotton farmers with buyers and textile manufacturers, reducing middlemen involvement and ensuring fair pricing.
• Value Addition Through Local Processing: Promoting value addition by establishing local cotton processing units that can gin, clean, and process cotton fiber, creating employment opportunities and adding value to the cotton supply chain.