World Cotton Day 2023 | 11 Oct 2023

Source: PIB

Why in News?

Recently, the Ministry of Textiles hosted a conference for World Cotton Day (7^th October , 2023) in collaboration with Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) and EU-Resource Efficiency Initiative which discussed best practices and sustainable methods in the cotton value chain.

• Conference led to the Introduction of the "Bale Identification and Traceability System" (BITS) using Blockchain Technology.
• It also led to the launch of the Kasturi Cotton program for quality cotton with traceability.

What is Bale Identification and Traceability System (BITS) and Kasturi Cotton Program ?

• Bale Identification and Traceability System (BITS):
  • The BITS is a technological initiative in the cotton industry that utilizes Blockchain Technology to assign unique QR codes to cotton bales.
• Objective:
  • BITS was introduced to ensure that key information about cotton bales, such as their quality, variety, origin, and processing details, is transparent and easily accessible to both domestic and international buyers.
• Traceability:
  • By scanning the QR code, stakeholders, including cotton buyers, textile manufacturers, and others, can trace the entire journey of the cotton bale from its origin to the final product.
• Implementation:
  • BITS is implemented by the Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) in collaboration with other relevant stakeholders such as State Governments.
• Kasturi Cotton Program:
  • The Kasturi Cotton Program is an initiative introduced by the Ministry of Textiles in India to promote the production and availability of premium quality cotton with traceability.
    • TEXPROCIL, in collaboration with CCI on behalf of the Ministry of Textiles, is overseeing the implementation of this program.
  • Certified Quality:
    • Kasturi Cotton is not just any cotton; it is certified to meet certain quality standards, which may include fiber length, strength, color, and other characteristics that make it suitable for premium textile products.

What are the Key Facts about Cotton?

• About: Kharif Crop which requires 6 to 8 months to mature.
  • Drought – resistant crops which are ideal for arid climates.
  • Occupies 2.1% of the world’s arable land, meets 27% of the world’s textiles needs.
• Temperature: Between 21-30°C.
• Rainfall: Around 50-100 cm.
• Soil Type: Well-drained black cotton soil (Regur Soil) (E.g. Soil of Deccan Plateau)
• Products: fiber, oil and animal feed.
• Top Cotton Producing Countries: India > China > US
• Top Cotton Producing States in India: Gujarat > Maharashtra > Telangana > Andhra Pradesh > Rajasthan.
• Four cultivated species of cotton: Gossypium arboreum, G.herbaceum, G.hirsutum and G.barbadense.
  • Gossypium arboreum and G.herbaceum are known as old-world cotton or Asiatic cotton.
  • G.hirsutum is also known as American cotton or upland cotton and G.barbadense as Egyptian cotton. These are both new world cotton species.
• Hybrid Cotton: Cotton made by crossing two parent strains that have different genetic characters. Hybrids are often spontaneously and randomly created in nature when open-pollinated plants naturally cross-pollinate with other related varieties.
• Bt Cotton: It is a genetically modified organism or genetically modified pest-resistant variety of cotton.