Context:
81st plenary session of the International Cotton Advisory Committee (ICAC) held recently.
News Highlights:
- India – Has largest area under cotton cultivation and is the 2nd largest producer.
- India will provide leadership in cotton textiles and technical textiles.
- Launched PM MITRA – a Central government scheme to set up mega textile parks and promote the entire value chain.
- Introduced textile products made using Kasturi cotton (India’s premium Cotton).
Cotton Crop:
- A Kharif crop
- Grows well in black cotton soil of Deccan plateau. (Soil has high water retention capacity)
- Climatic conditions –
- Annual temperature requirement – 20-28 degree Celsius
- Rainfall – 55-110 cm is ideal.
- Requires minimum 180 frost-free days.
- Cotton-producing states – Maharashtra, Gujarat, MP, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Punjab, Haryana and UP.
- Cotton Producing Countries – China, India, USA
- India grows all 4 species of cultivated cotton –
- Gossypium arboreum and herbaceum (Asian cotton)
- G.barbadense (Egyptian cotton)
- G. hirsutum (American Upland cotton)
Brown Cotton or Kandu:
- State – Karnataka
- A local indigenous variety of desi cotton.
- Recognised for its natural brown colour.
- A rain-fed variety of cotton that is well-suited for south India’s environment.
Source: The Hindu
Previous Year Question
Consider the following statements:
1. The Government of India provides Minimum Support Price for niger (Guizotia abyssinica) seeds.
2. Niger is cultivated as a Kharif crop.
3. Some tribal people in India use niger seed oil for cooking.
How many of the above statements are correct?
[UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2023 Prelims]
(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) All three
(d) None
Answer: (c)
