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Cotton
Context:
Recently, the third Meeting of the Committee on Cotton Production and Consumption (COCPC) for the Cotton Season 2023-24 was held.
More on News:
- According to the Textile Commissioner, the industry would have enough raw material availability.
- Additionally, cotton consumption has increased, marking the second highest consumption out of the last ten years.
Cotton:
- It is a key commercial crop in India, accounting for about 24% of global production.
- Supports around 6 million cotton farmers and 40-50 million people in related activities.
- Major contributor to India’s net foreign exchange through exports of raw cotton, intermediate and finished products.
- Due to its economic significance, it is termed “White Gold” in India.
- Approximately 67% of India’s cotton is produced on rain-fed areas and 33% on irrigated lands.
- India is the only country which grows all four species of cotton:
- G. Arboreum and G. Herbaceum (Asian cotton)
- G. Barbadense (Egyptian cotton)
- G. Hirsutum (American Upland cotton).
- In India, majority of cotton production comes from 9 major cotton growing states, grouped into three diverse agro-ecological zones, as under:
- Northern Zone – Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan
- Central Zone – Gujarat, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh
- Southern Zone – Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka.
- Gujrat is the largest producer followed by Maharashtra.
- India is also the 2nd largest consumer of cotton in the world with estimated consumption of 317 lakh bales (5.39 Million Metric Tonnes i.e. 22.69% of world cotton consumption of 1397 lakh bales (23.75 Million Metric Tonnes).
- Government designates Cotton Corporation of India Limited (CCI) to conduct Minimum Support Price (MSP) operations when seed cotton prices drop below the MSP level.
- Climate & Soil Requirements
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- It is a Kharif crop, matures in 6 to 8 months.
- Climate: Tropical and subtropical climates. It prefers warm, humid climates.
- Temperatures: Between 21-30°C.
- Rainfall: Ranging from 50 to 100 cm.
- Soil: It prefers well-drained black cotton soil with a pH range of 5.5 to 8.5.
- However it can also grow on diverse soils including, well-drained deep alluvial soil and mixed black and red soil.