Successful cotton pilot program extended a year more by government
The special project on cotton to enhance production during 2023-24 was started in April 2023 and is scheduled to continue until March 2024, involving the participation of 15,000 farmers across 10 states.
In April of this year, a pilot project was initiated with the aim of enhancing cotton production in 10 states. There are indications that this project may be extended for an additional year beyond March 2024. The anticipated growth in cotton production in these states is between 20-25%, which is a significant increase, especially considering the overall decline in cotton production across India.
The growth in cotton production is attributed to the adoption of best agronomy practices, the use of quality seeds, and the implementation of high-density planting systems.
The special project on cotton to enhance production during 2023-24 was started in April 2023 and is scheduled to continue until March 2024, involving the participation of 15,000 farmers across 10 states. The final outcome of the data will be analysed in January. The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) will be responsible for evaluating the data.
The 10 states where the pilot project is currently underway are Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Karnataka. The expected increase in production resulting from the pilot project could potentially strengthen India’s cotton export ecosystem, thereby enhancing its position in the global cotton export markets, where it faces growing competition from countries like Bangladesh and Vietnam.
According to commerce ministry data released on November 15, India’s exports of cotton, fabric, yarn, and handloom products witnessed a 5.7% growth during April-October 2023, totalling $ 6,877 million compared to $ 6,509.51 million in the corresponding period last year. Textile production in September grew by 3.7% Y-o-Y, as per the Index of Industrial Production (IIP) data released on November 10, 2023. In August, textile production saw a growth of 1.6%.
News source: Mint
