Cotton

History of Cotton

• Archaeologists have discovered cotton fibres more than 4,000 years ago in coastal Peru and at Mohenjo-Daro in the Indus valley (Pakistan). But the origin of cotton is shrouded in mystery.
• India is considered the home of arboretum cottons. But G.ossypium was possibly introduced into Western India from Arabia, Persia and Baluchistan.
• Cotton industry ranks first in the agro-based industry and engages about 4 to 5 million people. At present, there are 3,660 ginning factories and over 1,100 spinning mills in the country. Annually India earns annually foreign exchange of over Rs 2,500 m through exports of cotton textiles and finished products. Moreover cotton fabrics are preferred over synthetic fabrics because of its durability’s, washability, vapour transfer, softness, chemical stability, elasticity and strength on both wetting and drying.

Top

Origin and spread

Diploid/Desicotton/Asiatic cotton/old world cotton

• There are distinct races within species based on the geographical distribution. In G.arboreum, the race indium has given perennial forms like the ‘Rozi’ cottons of Gujarat, which has spread to coastal Tanzania. It is supposed that the present day cultivated arboretums are derived from this perennial race. The race cernuum is suited to high rainfall regions of Assam and Bangladesh.
• It has produced Comilla cotton The Sinense race has provided the commercial cultivars of China, Korea and Japan, the race bengalense has provided the annuals with high ginning, coarse cottons of Punjab and Singh regions of Pakistan, Uttar Pradesh and Peninsular India. The important in G.herbaceum include Persicum and African, which have spread to Iran, Afghanistan and parts of Africa.
• Gossypium hirsutum
• Gossypium barbodense

N = 26, tetraploids/American/Egyptian/New world/Exocit cottons

• In upland cottons (G.hirsutum) race maria-galante is a large perennial shrub or small tree, highly photo periodic and spread over the Caribbean islands, Panama and northern Brazil. G.barbadense seems to have evolved in South America as a wild species as Tanguis cotton, which is rationed and represents 90 per cent of the Peruvian crop.
• This variety was introduced to North America, in the name ‘Sea-Island’. Both Tanguis and Sea-Island types of cotton were brought to Egypt-on improvement gave rise to the famous Egyptian long staple cottons.
• The upland cotton G.hirsutum must have moved from the centre of diversity near the border of Mexico and Guatemala.

Top

Cotton role in Indian Economy

• Cotton is one of the most important cash crops in India, which plays a significant role in the national economy. It occupies 5 per cent of the total cultivated area in the country, which is 25 per cent of the world’s area under this crop.
• On an average, around 200 man-days are utilized in the farming of cotton in a one hectare area in a season. Thus, it engages more than 1 million farmers during the year.
• More than 4,000 ginning and pressing units in the country based on cotton, guarantee employment to millions of people. Overall, about 60 million people are dependent upon the cotton cultivation trade and processing, etc., for their livelihood.
• It is a raw material for 1,569 textile mills comprising 1,295 spinning and 274 composite mills in India. The cotton is also consumed by another 620 tiny spinning units in the small sector.
• The textile industry provides employment to about 25.5 lakhs of people.
• Cotton is a predominant fibre accounting for nearly 70 per cent of total fibre consumption in the country.
• The total value of seed and lint ginned out of cotton, currently produced in the country, can be estimated to about Rs.15,000 crores.
• Since the start of the intensive cotton Development Programme Scheme, the country has exported 119.56 l.lakh bales of cotton over 26 years (1970-71 to 1995-967) after meeting the requirements of its own domestic industry.
• For the year 1995-96 export earnings from cotton textiles, yarns and garments amounted to Rs.25,402 crores as against Rs.22,942 crores in the year 1994-95.
• The total textile export accounted for 32 per cent of total foreign exchange earning in 1995-96.

Top

Cotton Tracts of India

• Cotton is grown in over 80 countries from 47o N latitude in Ukraine to 32oS in Australia and South America. However, the twelve major countries account for 80-85 per cent of the acreage and contribute 85-90 per cent of the world production, India ranks first in acreage under cotton. Besides, it is second largest consumer and the third largest producer of raw cotton.
• Based on the agro-climatic conditions and spp. distribution, three distinct regions are recognized.
• The northern hirsutum-arboreum zone comprising of Punjab, Haryana, North West Rajasthan and Western Uttar Pradesh.
• Central hirsutum - arboretum – herbarium region comprising of Southern Rajasthan, Gujarath, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra.
• Southern hirsutum – arboretum – barbadense zone comprising of Karnataka, Andhra Prade sh and Tamil Nadu.

Top

Future scenario

• In the coming years India’s projected population of 1 billion will demand 180-190 lakh bales and further upto 230-240 lakh bales by 2026 AD. The share of cotton textiles in India is around 65 per cent. The global cotton scenario is one of stagnation since 1991-92 when production peaked and since then no improvement has been recorded. The perceptions vary regarding the prospective cotton scenario.

• The share of clothing expenditure in total consumption is higher at low level income levels and has been falling in the developed countries.
• The high differential in population growth rates would mean that main growth markets for clothing would be the developing countries.
• Potential of internal markets in developing countries constitutes a source of growth for the development of the textile industry.
• The developed countries adopt a highly protectionist behaviour and support the restructuring programmes of their industries.
• The international markets for textiles are increasingly divided into two distinctive markets – undifferentiated and differentiated.
• The agreement on Textiles and Clothing (ATC) stipulates that the MFA (Multifibre arrangement) will be phased out in 4 stages spread over a period of 10 years and that the textile and clothing sector will be integrated into GATT.
• The need of the hour is to increase the productivity and quality of cotton, only low priced and good quality cotton would sell in this unified global market and therefore it is necessary to prepare for the future. Thus India has an edge over other cotton producing countries in costs. The full liberalization of the cotton economy would attract more funds and technology into the cotton production programme, the problem of poor packing and high contamination can be solved through education and enhancing the reward for quality cotton.
• Vertical expansion in terms of yield improvement holds the key for further growth in production. Biotechnological tools have to be exploited in full measure to achieve yield improvement or less prevention through transgenic plants against biotic and abiotic stresses. Breeding programmes should include fibre characteristics having a bearing on the international market. Possibility for export of hybrid seeds has to be explored. The state has to monitor the seed industry to avoid exploitation of farmers and eliminate spurious seeds in the market.
• Streamlining of the seed market will go a long way in making hybrids available within a reasonable price band. Delineation of areas for specific genotypes will help in maintaining quality and grade of the produce meant for the domestic and export markets. Increasing the resource use efficiency in the irrigated region and harnessing watersheds in rainfed tracts are being studied.
• Attempts should also be made to explore the commercial use of cotton by products such as cotton seed oil, proteins and even stalks in paper and card board making which will enhance the economic returns to cotton farmers. Partial mechanization of picking in the northern Zone and stubble removal in the Central Zone will help in timely operationalisation and cost reduction.

Top

Cotton in Karnataka

• Cotton is an important commercial crop which can be grown in all parts of Karnataka.
• It is mainly grown in Dharwad, Gadag, Haveri, Belgaum, Bellary, Bijapur, Shimoga, Chamarajnagar, Mysore, Davanagere districts.
• In Karnataka, traditional cotton growing areas included Dharwod, Bijapur, Chitradurg, Bellary, Raichur districts.
• However, there is a spectacular shift in cotton growing areas in Karnataka. From traditional areas, it has spread to many non-traditional districts like Mysore, Shimoga, Chamarajnagar, Davanagere
• But, total area under cotton cultivation has drastically reduced from 10.4 lakh ha during 1977-78 to 6.24 lakh ha during 1990.
• In 2002 – 2003 area under cotton in Karnataka is 3.62 lakh ha with a production of 272 to 290 kg/ha, which accounts to 6 lakh bales (1 bale = 170 kg.).

Top

Economic importance

• Cotton differs from other field crops in that it is an oil crop, which is grown for its fibre, an outgrowth from the seed epidermis. Fibres develop as elongation’s of surface cells in the seed coat and being part of the seed, follow the same development pathway.
• Cottonseed constitutes about 65 per cent lint, 17 per cent oil and 24 per cent protein. The oil, which is unsaturated, is used for cooking, soap making and other purposes. During oil extraction, the rest of the seed is converted into protein-rich oil cake, a valuable stock feed.

Top