'Abundant cotton to have a positive impact on textile industry'

Abundant availability of cotton and fall in cotton seed prices is expected to have a positive impact on the textile industry, said S C Grover, chairman and managing director, Cotton Corporation of India, in his address on 'Sustainable Global Competitiveness of Textile Industry' jointly organised by CII and Southern India Mills Association of India (SIMA).

"Cotton yield per hectare in the country has increased by 40 per cent to 440 kg in the last two years. Cost of cultivation is expected to come down further with the fall in cotton seed prices," he added.

Grover pointed out that the increase in productivity per hectare was not only due to favourable agro climatic conditions in the country but also as a result of team work by the farmers, agricultural universities and various marketing initiatives undertaken.

In 2002-03, cotton yield per hectare was 302 kilogram and jumped to 392 kilogram in 2003-04.

The reason for the growth in yield per hectare was as a result of farmers in Punjab and Harayana jointly working with the agricultural farmers who were advising them on the quality of seeds and quantity of pesticides to be used.

It was found that when there was crop failure in 2001-02, farmers went to moneylenders for cash who, in turn, did not pay them in cash but gave them the required seeds and pesticides. The farmers were not able to check the quality of seeds as well as the pesticides given by the moneylenders.

Grover said that with the increased yield per hectare in the recent years, there has been a change in the outlook of farmers who now ensure that they purchase good quality seeds and do not depend on the moneylenders for seeds nor pesticides.

Farmers were using almost 50 per cent of pesticides in cotton cultivation which has been gradually on the decline, he added.