The Hindu Business Line : Acreage under cotton touches 10-year low

THE area under cotton cultivation touched a 10-year low during the 2002-03 season. From a high of 85.93 lakh hectares (ha)in 2001-02, cotton area fell to 73.90 lakh ha in 2002-03, the lowest since 1994-95.

South zone witnessed a 22 per cent reduction in area, followed by 15 per cent in North and 11 per cent in central cotton zone.

Being raised under rain-fed conditions, severe drought in the western and southern regions of the country probably restrained the growers to take to cultivation of this cash-rich crop.

In most of the cotton tracts in the central and southern zones, the weather remained relatively dry in the beginning and mid-season. However, in such of those farms where water-harvesting techniques were adopted, the growers, cotton scientists say, had benefited.

North zone had mixed intensity and distribution of rainfall.

Faridkot was said to have received adequate rain when the boll maturation was due, while the rain was scanty in Sirsa. Cotton production in south Rajasthan was affected due to inadequate and late rains.

Having peaked to 91.71 lakh hec in 1996-97 season, cotton area has since steadily declined in the country. The 2002-03 season witnessed a 16 per cent reduction in the total area.

While the area has dipped, production and productivity levels too have stagnated over the last decade. "This is a matter of concern," says Dr T.P. Rajendran, Project Coordinator and Head, Central Institute for Cotton Research (CICR) Regional Station, Coimbatore.

Stating that this was one of the most difficult years for cotton farmers, scientists and the Government, he conceded that the productivity was affected because of the natural calamity (drought) despite the best technological support from cotton scientists and efforts taken by the cotton growing States.

Despite the steep decline in production levels, the Cotton Advisory Board's estimates show that the country would be comfortable in so far as the demand and supply of this raw material was concerned. CAB has put the opening stock at 40 lakh bales and the production (estimated) for the 2002-03 season at 140 lakh bales. Asked about the quality of the Indian cotton, he said the Central Institute for Research on Cotton Technology (CIRCOT) in Mumbai had specified the fibre quality norms. The breeders were given guidelines based on these norms. It was observed that the country's need for the 40s and 50s count was the maximum. "A dialogue to delineate the prevailing cotton demand in each count-group with specified strength requirement between spinners and cotton breeders seems ideal at this juncture," he said.

He said the issue of multiplicity of varieties and contamination of the cotton fibre was discussed at various forums. The Committee that was constituted by the CAB for identifying the cultivars to be recommended for denotification had submitted its report.

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