India’s imports of Supima cotton, an extra-long staple (ELS) cotton exported by the U.S., have been rising following the removal of import duty on ELS cotton earlier this year.

• Previously, an 11% import duty on cotton was imposed in the 2021-2022 Union Budget.

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Key Highlights on the rise in Import

• Demand vs. Shortage: India imports 60,000–2,00,000 bales of Supima cotton annually to address a shortage of ELS cotton domestically.
• Global Pricing Pressure: U.S. Pima cotton farmers are facing challenges breaking even, potentially leading to higher prices to sustain cultivation.
• Competing Supplies: While U.S. cotton exports to India grew, its market share declined due to increased imports from Australia, Brazil, and West Africa.

About Cotton Cultivation (White-Gold)

• Tropical Crop: Cotton is a tropical crop grown during the kharif season in semi-arid regions of India.
• Temperature and Rainfall: The crop thrives in temperatures ranging between 21°C and 30°C and requires annual rainfall of 50–75 cm.
• Soil Types: Cotton grows in diverse soils:
  • Well-drained deep alluvial soils in northern India.
  • Variable-depth black clayey soils in central India.
  • Mixed black and red soils in the southern regions.
• Sensitivity: While cotton exhibits some tolerance to salinity, it is highly sensitive to waterlogging, necessitating well-drained soils.
• Climate Requirements:
  • Clear skies are essential during the flowering stage.
  • Cotton requires approximately 210 frost-free days and grows well in mineral-rich black lava soil (regur soil).

India’s Position in Cotton Production

• Global Production: India is the second-largest producer of cotton globally, with an estimated production of 323.11 lakh bales in the 2023-24 season, accounting for 23.83% of the world’s cotton production ( 1429 lakh bales).
• Area Under Cultivation: India ranks first globally in the area under cotton cultivation, contributing 39% of the world’s total cotton area of 318.8 lakh hectares.
• Irrigated vs Rain-fed Areas: Around 67% of India’s cotton is grown in rain-fed areas, while 33% is cultivated in irrigated regions.

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Major Cotton-Producing Zones and States in India

• Largest Producing Zone (2022-23): The Central Zone, comprising Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Madhya Pradesh, is the largest cotton-producing zone in India.
• Top Producing States: Gujarat is the largest producer of cotton, followed by Maharashtra and Telangana.
• Zones for Cotton Cultivation:
• • Northern Zone: Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan.
  • Central Zone: Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Madhya Pradesh.
  • Southern Zone: Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and Karnataka.
  • Cotton is also cultivated in Odisha and Tamil Nadu.

Types Of Cotton Produced in India:

• India is unique in cultivating all four cotton species.

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Initiatives of Central Government to Boost Cotton Production

• PM MITRA: Pradhan Mantri Mega Integrated Textile Region and Apparel scheme aims to develop world-class textile parks with plug-and-play facilities.
• PLI Scheme: Production Linked Incentive scheme to boost domestic manufacturing of textiles and apparel.
• Kasturi Cotton Bharat: Promotes sustainable cotton cultivation practices, focusing on reducing water and pesticide usage.
• National Technical Textile Mission (NTTM): Encourages the development and production of high-performance technical textiles.
• Amended Technology Upgradation Fund Scheme (ATUFS): Provides financial assistance for technology upgrades in the textile sector.