There have been rapid strides in production and productivity of cotton in India during the last 50 years, through generation of new technologies including hybrid technology by cotton scientists and their adoption by farmers.
Whereas, the production and productivity of cotton during 1947-48 were 2.3 million bales and 93 kg yield per hectare, the same has gone up to 16.2 million bales and 301 kg llnt per hectare during 1998-99. This production is achieved form 9 million hectares. The yield of 301 kg lint per hectare does not however compare well with the world productivity of 560 Kg/ha, not to speak of the yield of U.S.A., China, Australia and Israel which are much higher than the global average.
(a)
Though, large area (70%) under rainfed cotton is considered to be one of the reasons for low yield, even the yield of entirely irrigated northern cotton zone consisting of Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan is much lower than that of Pakistan whose agro-dimate is almost similar to the above States.
(b)
Inadequacy in transfer of technology despite Govt. of India's Intensive Cotton Development Programme (ICDP), water logging, salinity etc. in irrigated belt, and vagaries of dimate and pests are considered to be the main reasons for poor productivity.
Overall quality standards of cotton are low in terms of micronaire end strength due to lack of focused research. This is evident from poor micronaire and strength of Indian cottons compared to their foreign counterparts of same staple length. Apart from inherent deficiendes in quality , it also suffers from poor environment In which they are grown.
Not only our yield and quality standards are low but also our cotton is highly contaminated ( ginneries being the main source of contamination ) and considered to be one of the most contaminated cottons of the world. It is, therefore, necessary to:
(a)
Improve the yield per hectare;
(b)
Improve the quality of cotton and reduce contamination;
(c)
Reduce cost of cultivation which alongwith improved yield
will improve the Income of the cotton growers.
As a result of continuous downward trend in the world cotton prices for nearly four years and no possibility of significa.it improvement in cotton prices for next few years, it is will not be possible to increase the income of the
cotton growers by way of increase in the price alone .
