A panel of central and state ministries, industry bodies from seed, textile and fertilizer sectors is the need of the hour. Cotton fabric is an eco-friendly material and should be used more widely. Affordable cotton prices are the key. The textile industry is in the worst shape due to the current shortage and high cotton prices. Cotton exports worth $2 billion are in danger. India cultivates cotton on 12 million hectares but lags behind in productivity. The current productivity of 440 kg/ha of lint, down from its highest level of 516 kg/ha five years ago, compares poorly with the global average of 775 kg/ha.
In the absence of a clear strategic policy and an enabling regulatory environment, India may not be able to provide cotton at an affordable cost to the textile industry. India being the largest exporter of cotton can become a net importer in 2013-14.
India's cotton production tripled from 13 million bales in 2002 to a peak of 39 million bales in 2013, but declined to 32 million bales last year. For the past five years, cotton yields have stagnated and recently started declining, putting pressure on supply. The demand-supply imbalance has pushed up the prices and hit the textile industry hard. The textile industry requires 45 million bales by 2026 for domestic purpose and to meet exports to countries like Bangladesh and Vietnam.
It is unlikely that India will produce enough cotton in five years unless a strategy involving multiple stakeholders and central and state ministries is drawn up immediately.
productivity depressed
62 districts for 37 per cent of the cotton area have very low yields of 230 kg/ha and another 69 districts have a moderate yield of 420 kg/ha in 35 per cent of the area. The productivity in the rest of the area is reasonably 615 kg/ha.
Yield loss due to pink larva, sycamore rot and sucking pest as well as costly weed management has become a nightmare for the cotton farmer. Farmers have to pay 20 per cent of their revenue for harvesting cotton. Rising cost of production is affecting the livelihood and income of 70 lakh cotton farmers.
In addition, no new biotech traits for cotton seeds have been approved for commercialization since 2005, resulting in inefficiencies in pest control leading to yield declines.
Many countries achieved a ginning out-turn of 40-45 percent as compared to 30-35 percent in India.
This means we are losing 20 percent of lint productivity compared to other countries. Lack of up-gradation of agricultural practices and mechanization of operations including harvesting is causing inefficiency in cotton production.
Inadequate investment in seed research due to price control on cotton seeds has meant lack of development of high quality cotton seed varieties in the last 10 years.
way forward
A holistic and long-term strategic approach is required. Starting from cotton seed, crop protection, crop nutrition, irrigation, mechanization, market, guinea and end user, many links in the value chain are to be optimized and technologically advanced. There should be an alignment between the various central ministries and between the Center and the states where cotton is grown or the textile units are based. We need an end-to-end integrated approach.
If India is to achieve the global average productivity, it will have to adopt breakthrough technologies and introduce new production systems as outlined below.
High Density Planting System (HDPS): Increase plant population from existing 15,000-25,000 per hectare to 75,000-1,00,000 with optimized farming practices leading to 30 percent increase in yield. India needs to develop compact plant types which are suitable for increasing the plant population. This would require breeding effort from the seed industry in partnership with ICAR-CICR and ICAR-SIRCOT. Farmers are encouraged to adopt this method.
Regards
Team Sis
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