Important Facts For Prelims
The Decline in Cotton Exports
- 07 Sep 2019
- 2 min read
According to the Cotton Textiles Export Promotion Council the cotton yarn exports declined by 44% in July 2019, compared with the same month in 2018.
- According to it, Cotton yarn exports are at a five-year low.
- Along with this India’s share in global textile and clothing exports has also seen a downfall.
- While India was the second-largest exporter of textile and clothing in 2014-2017, it has come down to the fifth position in 2019.
Cotton Cultivation
- India is believed to be the original home of the cotton plant. Cotton is one of the main raw materials for the cotton textile industry.
- Cotton grows well in drier parts of the black cotton soil of the Deccan plateau.
- It is a Kharif crop (grown with the onset of monsoon and harvested in September-October) and requires 6 to 8 months to mature.
- Major cotton-producing states are– Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh.
- Conditions required for the cultivation of cotton are:
Temperature
- Cotton grows in the tropical and sub-tropical warm humid climate. Annual temperature requirement is 20°-28°C. Equitable temperature distribution and bright sunshine is desirable.
Rainfall
- Annual rainfall of 55-100 cm is ideal for cotton Cultivation.
- However, the Rainfall during harvesting is harmful.
Frost-free Days
- About 180 frost-free days are the minimum requirement for cotton cultivation. While, 200 frost-free days are desirable for cotton cultivation.
Soil
- Fertile, saline soil with high water-retention capacity is ideal for cotton cultivation. Loamy soil with high calcium carbonate is best for cotton cultivation.
Relief
- The slight slope of the land drains the soil and is good for cotton cultivation.
