Cotton Sector in India
Context:
The recent Union Budget highlighted the declining productivity as seen in the cotton sector. Accordingly, the Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced an allocation of ₹500 crore for the National Cotton Technology Mission.
Relevance:
GS-02 (Government policies and interventions)
Dimensions of the Article:
- Key issues in the cotton sector
- National Cotton Mission
- About Cotton
- Way forward
Key Issues in the Cotton Sector:
- Fall in Productivity: The sector saw a huge drop from 502 kg/hectare in 2014-15 to 461 kg/hectare in 2024-25.
- Outdated Seeds: The farmers still use the Bollgard-2 variant of the which is less effective and more prone to crop damages from bollworms. However, the Bollgard-3 seeds are yet to get their approval.
- Costly farming methods: Modern mechanised farming techniques are too costly for farmers.
- Policy Gaps: Over 90% of farmers fail to get the MSP due to limited government procurement.
National Cotton Mission:
- The mission plans to increase the production of cotton in India, alongside enhancing the productivity and quality of cotton through research, technology transfer, and capacity building.
- The mission tries to address the issues faced by the cotton farmers and the entire cotton sector.
About Cotton:
- It is a kharif crop that is suitable for dry, arid climates.
- Cotton, as a material for the textile industry, fulfils 27% of the world’s textile needs.
- Cotton requires a well-drained black soil, also known as Regur Soil. (E.g. soil of the Deccan Plateau).
- Top Cotton Producing Countries: India > China > USA
- Top Cotton Producing States in India: Gujarat > Maharashtra > Telangana > Rajasthan > Andhra Pradesh
- Four Cultivated Species of Cotton: Gossypium arboreum, G.herbaceum, G.hirsutum and G.barbadense.
- Bt Cotton: It is a genetically modified pest-resistant variety of cotton.
Way Forward
The government should implement M.S. Swaminathan Commission recommendations that require MSPs to be at 50% above comprehensive costs. Moreover, budget allocations should be kept aside for seed technology that can strengthen procurement mechanisms and reduce input costs.
