Why in News?
The Government released “White Gold: India’s Cotton Story – From Seed to Shirt”, highlighting India’s global leadership in cotton production and new initiatives to improve productivity, quality, and sustainability.
Key Highlights
- India is the only country cultivating all four recognized cotton species.
- Ranks: 1st in global cotton acreage. 2nd in production and consumption.
- Cotton production (2025–26, provisional): 290.91 lakh bales.
- Domestic consumption: 328 lakh bales.
- Contributes nearly 19% of global fibre production.
- Supports livelihoods of 6 million farmers and employment for 40–50 million people in allied sectors.
Four Cotton Species
- Gossypium arboreum (Asian cotton)
- Gossypium herbaceum (Asian cotton)
- Gossypium hirsutum (American upland cotton; ~90% of India’s hybrid cotton)
- Gossypium barbadense (Egyptian cotton)
Bt Cotton
- Genetically modified cotton containing genes from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt).
- Commercially introduced in 2002.
- Resistant to bollworms, reducing insecticide use and improving yields.
Major Cotton Growing Zones
- Northern: Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan
- Central: Gujarat, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh
- Southern: Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka
- Also cultivated in Tamil Nadu and Odisha.
Government Initiatives
Mission for Cotton Productivity (2025–26)
- Five-year mission with an outlay of ₹5,659.22 crore.
- Target: Increase production from 297 lakh bales to 498 lakh bales by 2031.
- Focus on: Climate-resilient varieties, Pest-resistant seeds, Extra-Long Staple (ELS) cotton, and Advanced breeding and biotechnology.
Minimum Support Price (MSP)
- Procurement by Cotton Corporation of India (CCI).
- MSP (2026–27): Medium Staple: ₹8,267/quintal and Long Staple: ₹8,667/quintal
Special Project on Cotton (NFSM)
- Promotes: High Density Planting System (HDPS), Closer Spacing Planting System, and ELS cotton technologies.
- Demonstrations recorded 30–40% yield improvement.
Kapas Kisan App
- Digital platform for Farmer registration, MSP procurement slot booking, Aadhaar-linked payments, and SMS updates.
Kasturi Cotton Bharat
- National branding and traceability initiative.
- Features: QR-code certification, Blockchain-based traceability, and NABL-accredited quality testing.
- Promotes Indian cotton as a premium global brand.
Economic Importance
- Cotton is known as “White Gold”.
- Integral to the textile value chain and India’s export earnings.
- Cottonseed provides: Edible oil, Animal feed, Biomass fuel, and Surgical cotton and medical products.
[2020] “The crop is subtropical in nature. A hard frost is injurious to it. It requires at least 210 frost-free days and 50 to 100 centimeters of rainfall for its growth. A light well-drained soil capable of retaining moisture is ideally suited for the cultivation of the crop.” Which one of the following is that crop?
a) Cotton
b) Jute
c) Sugarcane
d) Tea