Gandhinagar, Oct 6 (IANS) Gujarat’s cotton cultivation area now spans 26.8 lakh hectares, producing 92 lakh bales at a productivity rate of 589 kg per hectare, ranking the state second in the country.
Agriculture Minister Raghavji Patel said that Gujarat’s cotton production landscape has transformed over the past two decades, sharing data on Sunday.
“Cotton plays a crucial role in Gujarat’s economy. Since the state’s formation, cotton productivity has increased by 459 kg per hectare, highlighting the importance of this crop. Gujarat’s hybrid-4 variety of cotton, developed by local researchers, led to a nationwide hybrid cotton era and boosted India’s overall cotton production.” officials shared.
The global importance of cotton is evident, as October 7 is celebrated annually as World Cotton Day. Cotton, often called ‘white gold,’ has long been integral to Gujarat’s agricultural landscape. Gujarat has been at the forefront of cotton cultivation and innovation for decades.
When Gujarat was established in 1960, cotton productivity was only 139 kg per hectare. Today, it has risen to approximately 600 kg per hectare.
Minister Patel elaborated on the history of cotton production in India, noting that after Independence, India faced a shortage of raw cotton, forcing the country to import cotton at high costs. This situation changed dramatically in 1971 when Surat’s research farm developed the hybrid-4 variety of cotton, ushering in a new era of cotton production across India. As a result, India met its domestic cotton demand and became an exporter. In 2021, India exported a record-breaking $10.78 billion worth of cotton.
Between 2001-02 and 2023-24, the area under cotton cultivation grew from 17.40 lakh hectares to 26.83 lakh hectares. Cotton production increased from 17 lakh bales to 92.47 lakh bales, and productivity rose from 165 kg per hectare to 589 kg per hectare during the same period.
In 2021-22, Gujarat ranked second in the country with 22.45 lakh hectares under cultivation, producing 73.88 lakh bales with a productivity rate of 559 kg per hectare. Minister Patel expressed confidence that with its ongoing efforts and state-supported initiatives, Gujarat will soon become the hub of cotton production in India, significantly contributing to the nation’s total output.
The minister also emphasised that Gujarat has been a leader in developing and approving new hybrid cotton varieties, including BT cotton. In 2012, Gujarat was the first to have two BT hybrid cotton varieties recognised by the Government of India. By 2015, two more BT cotton varieties were made available to farmers, further enhancing cotton cultivation in the state. With global population growth, the demand for natural fibres, textiles, edible oils, and cottonseed meal is expected to increase by 1.5 times by 2030 and double by 2040.
–IANS
janvi/kvd
Disclaimer
The information contained in this website is for general information purposes only. The information is provided by TodayIndia.news and while we endeavour to keep the information up to date and correct, we make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability or availability with respect to the website or the information, products, services, or related graphics contained on the website for any purpose. Any reliance you place on such information is therefore strictly at your own risk.
In no event will we be liable for any loss or damage including without limitation, indirect or consequential loss or damage, or any loss or damage whatsoever arising from loss of data or profits arising out of, or in connection with, the use of this website.
Through this website you are able to link to other websites which are not under the control of TodayIndia.news We have no control over the nature, content and availability of those sites. The inclusion of any links does not necessarily imply a recommendation or endorse the views expressed within them.
Every effort is made to keep the website up and running smoothly. However, TodayIndia.news takes no responsibility for, and will not be liable for, the website being temporarily unavailable due to technical issues beyond our control.
For any legal details or query please visit original source link given with news or click on Go to Source.
Our translation service aims to offer the most accurate translation possible and we rarely experience any issues with news post. However, as the translation is carried out by third part tool there is a possibility for error to cause the occasional inaccuracy. We therefore require you to accept this disclaimer before confirming any translation news with us.
If you are not willing to accept this disclaimer then we recommend reading news post in its original language.
