Cotton production in India is projected to see a sharp increase this year and the perception that farm suicides and the package of Rs17,000, announced by Prime Minister tell the sad story of cotton cultivation in India, is not entirely correct.
It is estimated that cotton production in India during 2006-07 will be around 265-275 lakh bales and if the figures turn out to be true, India will be the second highest cotton producer in the world after China dethroning US.
India had 16.1 percent share in May, 2005-06 and 17.5 percent in June, 2006-07. India's growth is visible from the fact that its percentage share was 12 percent in 2002-03.
Prime Minister in a review meeting expressed his displeasure at the dichotomy in the sector where on the one hand production was scheduled to blossom and on the other farmers were committing suicides.
Officials explain that bumper crop is the result of using BT seeds which has been used by 60 percent of the farmers and states like Gujarat, Punjab, and Tamil Nadu will see a jump of 50 percent in production.
On the issue of farmer's suicides, officials added that most of these cases occurred in Vidarbha where 80 percent of land is unused and they have committed such acts as they have known that farmers in other parts have been witnessing bumper crops.
Government is also contemplating levying import duty on short and medium staple cotton so that homegrown cotton is used domestically. Officials claimed that suicides may not be result of cotton only but other factors like dowry and healthcare may also be responsible.
marketing@alchempro.com
