Better seeds, tech can help meet cotton output target

Scientists need to improve quality parameters on all fronts "� ranging from high-fertility seeds to advanced technology "� to help the country achieve its cotton production target of 450 lakh bales (170 kg each) by 2012, against the 270 lakh bales estimated for this year, according to experts attending the interactive meeting organised by industry bigwigs here on Wednesday.

This would also help the textile industry achieve a size of up to $112 billion compared with $45 billion now, they added.

In his opening remarks, P D Patodia, chairman, Standing Committee on Cotton, CITI-CDRA, said the accumulative effects of the efforts of all the stakeholders helped the cotton sector achieve a productivity milestone since 2003-04.

The country has scaled new heights, with its output rising significantly. This year, the production is estimated to grow to 270 lakh bales from 244 lakh bales last year.

The efforts had also led to a quantum jump in yield levels to 502 kg a hectare, projected for 2006-07, from 302 kg a hectare in 2002-03, he said.

K F Jhunjhunwala, president of East India Cotton Association, said the country needed to improve productivity to 5 bales a hectare by 2012, from the current 3 bales, and this would be possible only when scientists took the challenge to come out with high-fertility seeds with adequate technology.

Patodia said the higher yield had translated into higher earnings for farmers, as there was reduction in cultivation cost. More importantly, he added, growers' dependence on the crop has also strengthened. Consequently, the industry had seen a significant turnaround in the past years "� it tuned into an exporter from a net importer, Patodia said.

The country is expected to ship 50 lakh bales this year, which indicates a phenomenal change from a scenario where the country imported 20 lakh bales only a few years ago, Patodia said.

Jhunjhunwala said given the performance of seed companies, productivity of 850 kg a hectare looked quite achievable.

Cotton producers need to pick up better-quality seeds available in the market for higher output. They also need to protect crop from major attacks of worms through tuned pest and proper water management.

"Farmers want higher as well as better-quality yields for higher realisation from their produce or investment. Hence, if farmers are given guidance on qualitative factor of seeds etc, the country will surely achieve output targets," Jhunjhunwala said.

"More than anything, seed availability is important," said Suresh Kotak, a cotton industry leader. Efficiency and germination factor of seeds were important as they affected costs, he added. A scientist said the qualitative factor of seeds needed to be strictly monitored.