COIMBATORE: Cotton production in the U.S., one of the major cotton producers, has slumped from 30.7 million bales to 15.6 million bales because the area has been converted for producing biofuel crops, mainly corn. Hence, India has a bright chance for increasing revenue through cotton exports, Vice-Chancellor of Tamil Nadu Agricultural University P. Murugesa Boopathi said here recently.
Speaking at a two-day annual research meet on cotton at the university, he said India produced 290 lakh bales amounting to 16 per cent of the global production, thereby emerging the second largest producer of cotton, next to China.
“Indian textile industry with 3,040 spinning mills, four million handlooms, 1.7 million power looms, and thousands of garment units, provide employment to 35 million people. In Tamil Nadu, there are 1,900 spinning mills. At present, 60 per cent to 70 per cent of the cotton area is rainfed. Scientists should therefore concentrate on breeding high yielding varieties suited for rainfed cotton,” the Vice-Chancellor said.
Pointing out that special schemes like Intensive Cotton Production Programme and introduction of hybrids had resulted in increase in acreage, production, and productivity, in cotton, Mr. Boopathi said a further jump in output was witnessed after the introduction of Bt cotton in 2002.
He added that cotton farmers were at a disadvantage with private firms producing Bt hybrids since the Bt hybrid seeds could not be re-used. He urged the scientists to incorporate Bt gene in popular cotton varieties in the State, such as MCU and SVPR series. By this, cotton farmers could use their own seeds and in the process save on seed cost.
Director of Research M. Paramathma said the area under Bt cotton in India had gone up to 75 per cent of the total cotton area. “Bt cotton usage has become a major component of Integrated Pest Management, which has resulted in significant reduction in use of insecticide – to the tune of 40 per cent to 60 per cent.
Therefore, new parental lines and their Bt conversions need to be identified. Organic cotton production is also gaining momentum with 0.75 lakh tonnes being produced in India, which amounts to half the world's production,” he said.
He also called for focus on precision farming and Integrated Nutrient Management for boosting organic cotton production. Ways to tackle mealy bug infestation was also stressed.
Director of Centre for Agricultural and Rural Development Studies N. Ajjan said that at the global level, India held the first place in cotton area with 34 per cent, second place in production with 23 per cent, and fifth place in productivity.
