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Cotton cultivation scenario in Gujarat - II
A K Chowdhury -

The second part of this article discusses the research and marketing scenario in cotton

Research inputs

The research work on cotton in Gujarat has been strengthened from time to time. However, inception of All India Co.ordinated Cotton Improvement Project in 1967 gave it a further boost. Presently, cotton research is carried on through a well knit system at one main, seven regional and eight sub stations distributed all over the state under GAU, since cotton is widely grown in almost all districts of the state except a few. The available results obtained from the agronomical experiments conducted at various cotton research stations on different varieties/hybrids in different soil types and agroclimatic conditions and their transfer to farmers have been very helplful in raising productivity per hectare substantially in the state.

Gujarat has a chequered history of cotton improvement research carried mainly at Cotton Research Station, Surat located in south Gujarat. Surat developed cotton through inter-specific hybridization viz.170 Co2 (Devi Raj) and 134 Co.2 M(Devi Tej). 170 Co.2 is still grown in some parts of Gujarat as well as Karnataka. Gujarat also is the state from where first hybrid cotton of the world viz. H-4 was released. H-4 was followed by other hybrids S-6, S-8 and S-10 which currently occupy more than 50 per cent of the cotton area in the state, contributing to almost 70 per cent of the production.

Gujarat also is the state from where first desi hybrids viz. G.Cot hybrid-7, G.Cot hybrid-9 were released for commercial cultivation. These two hybrids, however, could not spread because of problems in seed production.

Now, that male sterility is available in desi cottons, there will be no problem in seed production of male sterility based desi hybrids, which have shown very high hybrid vigour in the rainfed region not only in Gujarat but also in other states of Central and South India.

More than 40 per cent of the area in Saurashtra, Kutch, etc is under long duration herbaceum cotton viz. V 797 for which replacements have been recommended viz. G.Cot 13 and G.Cot 21. These later two varieties are semi open as against closed boll type of V 797.

These desi cottons are grown almost organically without any use of inorganic fertilisers and pesticides and if they can be certified they will fetch premium price to the farmers. These desi cottons are grown almost organically without any use of inorganic fertilisers and pesticides and if they can be certified they will fetch premium price to the farmers.

Regional specific IPM practices have also been developed to manage the various pests attacking cotton in the State. Biological control laboratory has also been established to produce bio-agent for supply to the farmers. CCI aided project of Cotton Research Station, Viramgaon have developed technologies to improve productivity through organic inputs.

Package of practices have been developed to maximise production from the above genotypes. CCI has helped in establishment of biological control laboratories in Surat and Hasnod which cater to farmes of Bharuch and Vadodara districts in South & Central Gujarat.

Marketing system of cotton and purchase of cotton by CCI in the state

In the marketing operation of cotton in Gujarat, co-operative marketing societies play a significant part (particularly in South Gujarat), though private trade is also in existence. In Sourashtra and Kutch areas of Gujarat, however, there is lack of regulated markets.

The market cess being levied in Gujarat is very nominal i.e. 0.03 per cent of value of kapas. The CCI procured 1,26,774 bales of cotton from Gujarat during 2000-2001. Thus, purchases of cotton by the CCI in Gujarat was 21 per cent of its total purchases in 2000-01.

Improvemeent of market yards

Under Mini Mission III of Technology Mission on Cotton(TMC), setting up of new market yards and activation/improvement of existing market yards have been taken up in all the cotton growing states. Of the 51 market yards sanctioned for development during the three years of 9th Five Year Plan i.e. 1999-2000 to 2001-02, the maximum number i.e. 15 were to be in the state of Gujarat of which 14 were meant for activation/upgradation and one was to be set up as new market yard.

Ginning & Pressing factories

Gujarat state has in all 257 ginning & pressing factories which include 148 ginning factories, 14 pressing factories and 95 composite factories (ginning & pressing activities included). Most of the factories are partnership concerns.

Modernisation of ginning and pressing factories

Mini Mission IV of TMC has taken up modernisation and technological upgradation of existing ginning and pressing factories and setting up of new factories for improvement in quality of cotton. During the three years of Ninth Five Year Plan i.e. 1999-2000 to 2001-2002, 150 ginning and pressing factories were to be modernised in all the cotton growing states.

Out of these 150 units, 42 are in Gujarat state of which 38 existing units are for modernisation/technological upgradation, while 4 new ginning and pressing units are to be set up in the state under Mini Mission IV with TMC assistance.

Cotton consumption and yarn production

The state with a total of 149 cotton/manmade fibre textile mills in 2000-01, (57 spinning and 92 composite mills) ranks third in the country in terms of installed spindlage capacity. Though in matter of loomage capacity it was next only to Maharashtra in 1978-79, Gujarat is now the leading state in terms of loomage capacity. During 1978-79, with 112 cotton textile mills, the state’s share in all India spindlage and loomage capacity was 19 per cent and 31 per cent respectively while the same in 2000-01 stood at 12 per cent and about 38 per cent respectively.

Consumption of cotton by the textile mills in Gujarat was 17 per cent of the total mill consumption of cotton in the country in 1978-79, while the same was about 8 per cent in 2000-2001. This showed that there is a marked shift in the activity of the textile mills in Gujarat from spinning to weaving in recent years. Further, the cotton spinning activity is now more concentrated in the state of Tamil Nadu, particularly Coimbatore and nearby areas.

CCI’s MSP operation in Gujarat during 2001-02

The cotton year 2001-2002 turned out to be one of significant decline in market prices. The prices of most of the important varieties of kapas had started falling write from the beginning of the season and subsequently touched Minimum Support Price level in almost all the major cotton growing states (including Gujarat), Orissa and Meghalaya. The CCI being the only agency of the government for MSP operation had immediately stepped in to protect the cotton farmers of the state and has procured 2.22 lakh bales of cotton in Guijarat which is about 27 per cent of its total procurement under MSP operation in 2001-02. Thus, due to the Corporation’s market intervention in the state, the cotton farmers in Gujarat not only realised remunerative prices for their prouce but also prevented distress sale which will sustain their future interest in cotton cultivation.

(The author is consultant, Cotton Corporation of India)