On a Mission
March 17, 2010 At the 68th Plenary Meeting of the International Cotton Advisory Committee, held in September 2009, the delegation from India filed the following report on the progress of its four “mini missions” to advance the cotton industry in India.
The “Technology Mission on Cotton” (TMC) program, launched by the Government of India in February 2000, aims at improving the quality and productivity of cotton in a mission mode manner. The mission consists of four mini missions focusing on: research and development on cotton; dissemination of technology to the farmers; improvement of marketing infrastructure; and modernization of the ginning and pressing sector.
| India Cotton Production, By State and Region | ||||||
| 2008-09 | 2007-08 | 2006-07 | ||||
| Million Bales 170 kgs | Million Metric Tons | Million Bales 170 kgs | Million Metric Tons | Million Bales 170 kgs | Million Metric Tons | |
| Punjab | 1.75 | 0.30 | 2.20 | 0.37 | 2.40 | 0.41 |
| Haryana | 1.40 | 0.24 | 1.60 | 0.27 | 1.50 | 0.26 |
| Rajasthan | 0.75 | 0.13 | 0.90 | 0.15 | 0.90 | 0.15 |
| North Total | 3.90 | 0.66 | 4.70 | 0.80 | 4.80 | 0.82 |
| Gujarat | 9.00 | 1.53 | 11.20 | 1.90 | 10.30 | 1.75 |
| Maharashtra | 6.20 | 1.05 | 6.20 | 1.05 | 5.00 | 0.85 |
| Madhya Pradesh | 1.80 | 0.31 | 2.10 | 0.36 | 1.90 | 0.32 |
| Central Total | 17.00 | 2.89 | 19.50 | 3.32 | 17.20 | 2.92 |
| Andhra Pradesh | 5.30 | 0.90 | 4.60 | 0.78 | 3.60 | 0.61 |
| Karnataka | 0.90 | 0.15 | 0.80 | 0.14 | 0.60 | 0.10 |
| Tamil Nadu | 0.50 | 0.09 | 0.50 | 0.09 | 0.50 | 0.09 |
| South Total | 6.70 | 1.14 | 5.90 | 1.00 | 4.70 | 0.80 |
| Others | 0.20 | 0.03 | 0.20 | 0.03 | 0.10 | 0.02 |
| Loose Lint | 1.20 | 0.20 | 1.20 | 0.20 | 1.20 | 0.20 |
| Grand Total | 29.00 | 4.93 | 31.50 | 5.36 | 28.00 | 4.76 |
Since launching the TMC, considerable progress has been made, particularly during the last four years. Some of the salient features are:
Mini Mission I: Research and Development on Cotton
Several varieties/hybrids, including Bt varieties satisfying the quality norms of the Indian textile industry have been developed and released for commercial cultivation. As a result, the coverage under Bt hybrids gained momentum. The acreage under Bt cotton in the country has been continuously rising. Development of resistance to biotic factors (diseases and pests) through introgression of potential genes from wild species of cotton is in progress. Several farm-worthy cotton production technologies, such as fertigation, farm-yard manure application, application of micro-nutrients, etc., have been shown to restore the actual genetic potential of cotton in terms of productivity and fiber quality.
Mini Mission II: Dissemination of Technology to the Farmers
Under the Integrated Cotton Development Program, the objectives of the distribution of a large quantity of certified seeds have been achieved to a great extent. The various schemes being implemented under this mini mission are for transfer of technology in terms of pest management, watershed managements and other related measures to increase yield per hectare and reduce the cost of cultivation. The impact of these activities is reflected in substantially reduced consumption of pesticides with consequent reduction in the cost of cultivation and better profitability from cotton farming. Also, there is a perceptible increase in awareness of Integrated Pest Management among the farmers and a reduction in the number of varieties.
Mini Mission III: Improvement of Marketing Infrastructure
Under this mini mission, new market yards are being developed and existing market yards of cotton are being improved with basic infrastructure facilities — all with a view to avert cotton contamination in market yards and to provide a platform to the cotton producers for the orderly marketing of their produce at competitive prices. This mini mission targeted 250 market yards and all 250 have been sanctioned. Of these, 176 market yards have now reported completion of improvements.
Mini Mission IV: Modernization of the Ginning and Pressing Sector
Under this mini mission, 1,013 projects have been identified for the setting up of modernized ginning and pressing factories. Out of this total, 855 ginning and pressing factories have now completed modernization. Due to these efforts, there has been a considerable reduction in trash and contamination in both market yards and ginning and pressing factories, and many of the modernized factories have reported receiving adequate premiums for their cotton from mill buyers. This has resulted in providing cleaner cotton to the textile mills. This is a continuous process and, at present, around 85 percent of India’s cotton is being processed in such modernized factories, resulting in a significant improvement in processing of cotton for the industry.
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