Topic: Cotton

Economic Survey 2024-25 says complex regulations & lack of vertical integration have hindered India's ability to capitalise on shift to human-made fibres, impacting textile exports.

Not just yield, but even fibre quality affected adversely, say farmers, industry and agriculture experts. State agriculture minister J.P. Dalal says govt will compensate farmers.

Principal scientist at Central Institute for Cotton Research said infection range was 40-45% & widespread in state, where yield in 2022-2023 season hit 20-yr low due to pest attacks.

A paper published in Israel in 2022 from the Tel Tsaf site shows cotton fibres originated in the Indian subcontinent around 5200 BCE.

Cotton, paddy are the main crops grown in Haryana during kharif season. Attacks by Pink Bollworm & Whitefly, diseases like leaf curl & parawilt contributing to drop in yield.

Cotton ginners from Haryana, Punjab & Rajasthan up the ante with certification on cotton bales to be mandatory from 1 Sept according to govt's 1 March notification, threaten to shut units.

Find predates evidence of cotton cultivation in Indus Valley, indicating either wild cotton products were created before domestication, or domestication occurred earlier than believed.

Cotton Association of India demands duty-free cotton imports in letter to Textile ministerIndia cotton is 15% more expensive than cotton from other regions, & the higher price has eroded the competitiveness of textile industry, the letter said.

The examples of wheat, chana and cotton show agricultural markets are volatile. Govt needs to constantly fine-tune policies.

Pakistan deferring sugar and cotton imports from India should be seen as parking the car by the side of the road rather than a full U-turn.