MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF
CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (PROF. K.V. THOMAS)
(a): State-wise details of production and productivity of cotton in the country during the last
three years and the current year, i.e., 2007-08 to 2010-11 are given in the Annexure.
(b) & (c): Yes, Madam. Details of average yield of cotton in selected cotton producing
countries are as under:
Year Yield of cotton (Kg. lint per hectare) China USA India World
1980-81 550 453 169 411
1990-91 807 711 267 574
2000-01 1093 1008 278 612
2006-07 1286 912 521 770
2007-08 1278 985 560 797
2008-09 1270 911 526 767
2009-10 1260 868 502 725
Source: Cotton Advisory Board, M/o Textile
The low yield of cotton in India is attributable to the following factors:-
# In all other countries cotton is an irrigated crop whereas in India hardly 35-40% of the
cotton is under irrigation. Therefore, the scopes of adopting balanced nutrition are limited.
# Nearly 70 per cent cotton cultivation are subject to heavy vagaries of monsoon rain.
# Relatively higher intensity of insects and pests attack.
# Resource poor, small holding and 80% shallow and marginal land farmers.
# Continuous presence of cotton in the subcontinent also makes it easy for pests, disease
and other biotic stress agents which survive, multiply and causes frequent epidemics.
# The paucity of quality seeds, high cost of cultivation, multiplicity of varieties and
indiscriminate use of pesticides are the other reasons for low productivity of cotton in the
country.
(d): In order to increase production, productivity and improve the quality of cotton, Ministry of
Agriculture is implementing Mini Mission-II of Technology Mission on Cotton in various cotton growing
States in the country. Under the scheme assistance IS provided to increase production and productivity
of cotton. The main components of Mini Mission-II are production and supply of seeds of varieties/
hybrids which are released & notified during last 15 years, transfer of technology through frontline
demonstrations as well as training of farmers through Farmers Field Schools and training of extension
workers, establishment/strengthening of bio-agent production units, plant protection measures like
Insecticide Resistance Management (IRM), Integrated Pest Management (IPM), demonstration, surveillance
of diseases & pests and supply of sprayers/ pheromones/bio-agents/ bio-pesticides and supply of water
saving devices like sprinkler and drip irrigation.
Further, for enhancing the productivity of cotton in the country, Indian Council of
Agricultural Research (ICAR) has established All India Coordinated Research Project (AICRP) on
Cotton which is operating across ten major Cotton growing States in the country with specific
mandate to develop high yielding varieties and hybrids of cotton and related cotton production
and protection technologies. Central Institute for Cotton Research at Nagpur with Regional
Stations at Coimbatore and Sirsa is conducting basic and strategic research on cotton.
Development of improved high yielding cotton varieties/hybrids with specific adaptability
to different agro climatic conditions, quality breeder seed production, development of suitable cost
effective agronomic package of practices, moisture conservation measures, water saving modules
and drought tolerant cotton genotypes besides cotton crop protection strategies etc., have been
developed by ICAR. In addition, for dissemination of information about high yielding varieties/
hybrids, Front Line Demonstrations are conducted in Farmers` fields through its Centres located
across cotton growing states of the country.
