Area under cotton in India seems to have plateaued except for signs of some non-traditional States going for cotton, but this will be compensated by increase in area under irrigated cotton (40-45%), hybrid cotton and general increase in yield level even under rainfed cotton through improved technologies, as there is tremendous potential to expand the narrow yield base in India compared to the world average. The share of cotton in textile is around 50% globally, whereas in India it is around 65%. The global cotton scenario is one of stagnation since 1991-92, when production was at a peak but since then no improvement has been recorded.The area under cotton in India seems to have plateaued except for signs of some non-traditional states going for cotton but this will be compensated by an increase in the area under irrigated cotton (40-45%), hybrid cotton and in general increase in the yield level even under rainfed cotton through improved technologies, as there is tremendous potential to expand the narrow yield base in India compared to the world average.

Scope

There is need to identify locations for localized cultivation and processing of coloured cotton since contamination with white cotton could be a future threat. Registration of commercial coloured cotton cultivators is needed for this purpose and inspection procedures have to be standardized.

The full liberalization of the cotton economy would attract more funds and technology into the cotton production programme. The problem of poor packing and high contamination can be solved through education and enhancing the reward for quality cotton. The current status of cotton production and consumption pattern shows that India has made major strides since independence- from net importer to self-sufficiency and a marginal exporter of raw control. With the ongoing globalization, liberation and marketization, new challenges arise as the State slowly withdrawn from the regulatory regime and faces an international free market that has immense implications for the national economy through cotton, one of the main commercial crops.