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Cotton research calls for revamping

The Indian Council for Agriculture Research (ICAR) seems to encourage even dubious research on such new cotton seeds which may actually yield fibre of poorer quality. It does not seem to mind even if such an exercise aggravates the already serious problem posed by innumerable varieties of seeds in the country and the scourge of mixing of cottons of different qualities, which has become a nightmare for the industry.

Referring to the recent release of two such new cotton seeds, ICMF chairman Dr Rajaram Jaipuria recently complained that these did not have any better quality parameter than those of the existing seeds, to merit their release and yet their release was permitted. Moreover, the committee releasing these new seeds “conveniently” forgot to invite Mr M B Lal, advisor, Technology Mission on Cotton (Mini Missions III & IV) to the meeting where the decision to release these two seeds was taken. Dr Jaipuria also complained that Mini Missions I & II which were responsible for better farming practices, higher yields and for providing better seeds, were surprisingly not very active on account of apathy of various governments.

ICAR seems to be acting as if it is responsible to none for what it does, or what it does not do. No one seems to be asking it whether it is able to achieve the objects for which it has been set up and if so to what extent. It has miserably failed so far in developing Bt cotton seed.

It would appear that the ICAR’s Varietal Identification Committee recommended in April last the release of two new seeds with dubious attributes, viz, ADCH.1 (Swadeshi-1) and NBCHH 207 (Mallika). The TMC advisor has raised very serious objections to the release of these two new seeds.

With regard to the hybrid Swadeshi 1 of medium staple length, he has pointed out that a large number of medium staple cottons are already being cultivated in every part of our country. Further additions to these may only add to the problem of admixing of varieties that may spoil the fibre quality and create difficulties for the textile mills that want to manufacture yarn of consistent quality. If in spite of this, Swadeshi is to be introduced, it would be better to de-notify some other varieties of medium staple cotton in order to reduce the problem of admixing.

With regard to Mallika, Mr Lal has pointed out that its fibre attributes are actually inferior to those of the existing hybrid like Bunny. For instance, the new hybrid Mallika is loser in fibre tenacity which in its case is 24.9 g/t as compared to 25.5 g/t of Bunny which is much stronger than the new variety. Even in yield, Bunny is superior. In irrigated areas, the yield in the case of Mallika is only 30-35 quintals per hectare, while in the case of Bunny it is 35-40 quintals per hectare. Furthermore, the crop duration in the case of Mallika is 160-170 days, while in the case of Bunny, it is 150-160 days. Lower yield and longer duration in the case of Mallika are factors which may affect the interests of cotton growers in the country. Thus Mallika as an additional variety can only cause confusion in the farming community, cotton trade as well as spinning mills, in stead of bringing any benefit to them.

The textile industry has been urging ICAR to consider the changing requirements of spinning mills while chalking out programmes for breeding research and to ensure that the quality norms suggested by the Indian Cotton Mills Federation (ICMF), Central Institute for Research on Cotton Technology (CIRCOT) and South Indian Textile Research Association (SITRA) are given due importance, while selecting programme regarding breeding research. Also they have been emphatic that new varieties should be released only if they have fibre parameters matching with those in the guidelines. Or they are superior to the existing varieties in fibre attribute, yield etc. But ICAR seems to have remained indifferent to these suggestions even as they were sent to it nearly two years ago. Even the Cotton Advisory Board at its meeting held in August 24, 2001 had recommended that CIRCIT/ICMF/SITRA norms should be followed in all breeding programmes of ICAR. It has also been recommended that seeds yielding poor quality fibre should be denotified and cultivation should be restricted to 30 varieties recommended by the expert committee appointed by CAB, depending on different agronomic conditions in the country. The textile industry has also been demanding that it should have a role in decision making with regard to the release of new varieties for commercial cultivation.

Surprisingly, however, the response to these suggestions from ICAR is said to be poor. For instance, there has been no confirmation so far from ICAR that it will release new varieties only if they have better parameters than those suggested by ICMF. ICAR has also failed to involve industry members of ICMF and EICA in its Varietal Identification Committee so as to avoid the release of varieties and hybrids of poor qualities. Letters and reminders to the ICAR remain very often unattended. All this creates an impression that cotton research in our country does not proceed on sound lines and the government cannot shrug off from its responsibility.

M D Dewani