Technology Mission on Cotton

Introduction

With the liberalization of world trade following the progressive phasing out of the Multi Fibre Arrangement (MFA), quality and price competitiveness are becoming the most important criteria for good export performance of Indian Textiles. Even for domestic use the textile goods will have to excel in quality and be competitive in price because the Indian markets would become flooded with foreign goods that will find unlimited access into our country after 2004.

Two important requirements for good performance of Indian textiles in the domestic and export markets are
(i) advanced manufacturing technology and
(ii) availability of quality raw materials. In 1999-2000, the Government of India launched two schemes for the well-being of the textile economy as a whole. One is the Technical Upgradation Fund Scheme (TUFs) for modernization of the textile production and processing industries. The other is the Technology Mission on Cotton (TMC) which is a multi-dimensional scheme with four compent Mini Missions to improve the availability of good quality cotton to the Indian textile industry and at the same time ensure that the average farmer earns adequate profit from cotton cultivation. This paper discusses the achievements so far made under Mini Missions III & IV of TMC.

Importance Of Textiles in National Economy

Cotton is a crop that exerts considerable influence on India’s economy particularly textiles. It secures livelihood for about 60 million people engaged in various vocations related to farming trade and textile industry. One-third of India’s export earnings comes from textiles and 20% from cotton textiles alone. Strengthening of the raw material base by raising productivity and quality of cotton to match international standards is necessary to secure a prominent and sustainable global standing for Indian textiles.

Indian Cotton Scenario

India is the country with largest area in the world under cotton (around 7.8 million hectares approximately). However, it is only the third largest producer of cotton in the world after China and USA (Production: 140 lakh bales in 2002-03). Yield is, however, one of the lowest in the world – less than 300 kg/ha (world average: 631 kg/ha, Australia: 1277 kg/ha, China: 1177 kg/ha, USA: 743 kg/ha). Poor productivity of cotton in India is attributable to factories such as low yield potential of most varieties, absence of irrigation facility in two-thirds of the area under this crop, high pest incidence, etc.

India has the distinction of cultivating cotton of all staple classes – short, medium, long and extra long. This is the only country in the world where cottons belonging to all four major species are grown. Commercial cultivation of hybrid cotton first started in India where at present about 40% of production is of hybrids. The cost of cotton cultivation in India has been increasing due to large pesticide consumption. As a result the profitability of cultivation has eroded considerably over the years. It is ironical that despite adequate domestic production, mills are buying imported cotton of superior fibre quality at low price available with credit facility. Such imports tend to reduce the demand for Indian cotton, to the detriment of the average grower.

The cotton ginning scenario till recently presented a dismal picture. Ginning & Pressing factories are many but machines are old, inefficient and poorly maintained. Pre-cleaning of cotton as an exception rather than the rule. Materials handling is mostly done by manual means. As a result, the baled cotton is trashy and contaminated. Ginneries have remained indifferent to modernization because most mills were not willing to pay adequate premium for clean cotton.

Deficiencies in the Cotton Sector:

The raw cotton sector in India suffers from a plethora of deficiencies. Some of these are listed below :

• High Cost of cultivation
• Poor quality of seeds and pesticides
• Multiplicity of cotton varieties Leading to rampant mixing
• Poor fibre attributes of most varieties of cotton particularly in respect of micronaire and strength
• Tardy transfer of agricultural technologies from research farms to the farmers’ fields
• Improper handling of harvested cotton at the farm yard leading to contamination
• Poor infrastructure at market yards also contribute to further addition of impurities numbering over 20 types.
• High Trash content in cotton (5%-8%) despite being handpicked resulting from the absence of pre-cleaning and lint cleaning at ginneries

Technology Mission on Cotton (TMC):

In order to remove the deficiencies in the cotton sector and to place the cotton economy on a sound footing within a limited time frame, the Government of India set up the Technology Mission on Cotton. Formally launched on 19^th February 2000 by the Prime Minister, the Mission was intended for a 5-year term commencing from 1999-2000, but it has since been extended by 3 more years to cover the entire X^th Plan period ending with 2006-07.

The Technology Mission on Cotton (TMC) has four component Mini Missions, as follows:

Mini Mission I	Cotton Research & Tech. Generation Nodal Agency : ICAR
Mini Mission II	Transfer of Technology & Development Nodal Agency : DAC-MOA
Mini Mission III	Development of Market Infrastructure Modernization/upgradation of G&P factories Nodal Agency : MM-III & IV - MOT
Mini Mission IV

The objectives of TMC are the following:

Firstly, to augment the income of cotton growers and ensure availability of quality cotton to industry in required quantities by :

• improving the quality of cotton particularly in respect of staple length, micronaire and strength;
• increasing the productivity of cotton; and
• reducing the cost of cultivation.

Secondly, to reduce contamination in cotton by :

• improving infrastructure of cotton agricultural markets and
• modernizing Ginning & Pressing Factories.

Mini Mission - I:

The broad objective of Mini Mission – I is the improvement of production, productivity and quality of cotton through wide-ranging R & D endeavours. A total of 8 programmes have been so far taken up under this Mini Mission. The number of research projects under these 8 programmes is 23. The project involves all the 13 Agricultural Universities in the cotton growing State besides CICR, Nagpur and CIRCOT, Mumbai.

Several breeding materials have been evolved under diploid and tetraploid improvement projects with desirable fibre parameters and resistance to biotic and a biotic stresses. Soil site characteristics for the suitability of cotton production have been identified. Location-specific IPM modules have been developed and demonstrated on a large scale. Technology intervention programme has been initiated in different States.

Mini Mission – II:

The broad objective of Mini Mission – II is to reach the technologies developed in research farms and laboratories to the farmers’ fields. The Department of Agriculture & Co-operation under the Ministry of Agriculture, Government of India is the nodal agency for this Mini Mission. The programme is being implemented through the Directorate of Cotton Development with the active participation of the State Departments of Agriculture in more or less the same manner as Integrated Cotton Development Programme (ICDP).

The Mini Mission – II programme has 12 different components for most of which the Government of India share would be as high as 75% while the remaining 25% will be borne by the concerned State Government. The components include seed subsidy, demonstration of technologies, input supply.

With the information transferred to the farmers on the methods of reducing the quantum of inputs and maximizing productivity of cotton, Mini Mission – II hopes to bring about a transformation in the cotton production scenario in the country. Increase in yield targeted to be 500 kg/ha by 2006-07 in cotton cultivation in the years to come.

Mini Mission – III – Why Mini Mission – III ?

Indian cotton is regarded as the most unclean cotton with high trash and contamination levels. Over 20 types of contaminants are known to get mixed with cotton at different stages beginning with harvesting.

It is, however, at the market yard that a major part of contaminants gets added to raw cotton. The aim of Mini Missions III is to plug the sources of contamination. Such that no foreign matter is added to cotton during its handling at the market yard. For this, the infrastructural facilities at the markets are being improved through this Mini Mission.

Funding of Market Yard Development : TMC’s Role

Under Mini Mission III, new markets are being developed and existing markets improved. The concerned APMC with the participation of the Agricultural Marketing Dept. of the State Government would carry out the project with. Financial assistance from the GOI to the extent of 60% of the project cost subject to ceilings as shown below :-

Components of Market Development package :

Market yards being developed through Mini Mission III will have basic infrastructure as well as a package of additional facilities. While basic infrastructure will serve to avert contamination of cotton at the market premises, the additional facilities will bring wide ranging benefits to the farmer community. The improvements thus sought to be made in markets are listed below :-

(A) I. Essential facilities :

• Cemented Roads
• Pucca Platforms
• Sheds
• Godown
• Parking Place
• Fire fight Arrangements
• Weigh Bridge

II. Essential Amenities :

• Farmers’ Rest House
• Canteen for Farmers
• Drinking Water
• Sanitation

III. Desirable Systems :

• Proper auction/tender system to ensure fair deal for the farmer
• Maintenance of proper records to ensure transparency
• Timely payment to the farmers
• Regular maintenance of cleanliness in the premises

(B) Additional Facilities/Activities :

Mini Missions III & IV are not only achieving the targets set for IX^th as well as X^th Plans, but have taken several steps to improve the Income of cotton growers. Some of the steps taken are -

1. Setting up of Farmers’ Information Centres (FICs) – Equipped with modern IT facilities, the FICs will have a Kiosk as well as an Interactive Voice Response System (IVRS) which will give information to cotton growers in respect of all the activities relating to crop management starting from soil test, climatic conditions, rainfall, suitability of seeds, availability of inputs, market information in a particular mandi & nearby mandis, other States, in the country and also in the world.
2. Input Supply Shops – All market yards developed under TMC are being equipped with input supply shops, providing good quality seeds, fertilizers, pesticides and bio-agents at reasonable price to cotton growers.
3. Grading Laboratory – Each market yard taken up under TMC is being equipped with a Cotton Testing Laboratory to ensure that the farmer gets price matching with cotton quality and does not fall victim to unfair trade.
4. Awareness Meetings – Awareness meetings are held at State level as well as at the APMC level in order to educate farmers, market functionaries and ginners about the perils of cotton contamination and the ways and means to avert it so that cotton quality is preserved.
5. Best Management Practices (BMPs) – Literature prepared by TMC Cell in the form of Do’s and Don’ts in local language for reducing contamination at farm level, market yard level and in G & P factories and thus improve cotton quality is distributed in Awareness meetings for the information of all concerned.

BMPs in abridged form are also displayed on Awareness Boards at market yards and ginning factories.

Targets for Market Yard Development:

During the 8-year period from 1999-2000 to 2006-2007, Mini Mission III intends to develop as many as 111 market yards either through improvement of existing markets or by setting up new ones. These market yards are expected to handle about 60% of India’s cotton which could thus be delivered to ginneries in a clean, contamination-free from by 2006-2007.

Highlights of Market Development – Mini Mission – III

• All the 111 market development projects targeted under Mini Mission – III have been already approved, of which 61 have been completed.
• The total project cost of the 111 projects : Rs. 194.23 crore; TMC share Rs.97.45 crore.
• State-wise break-up of market yards taken up for development is shown in the Table below:

Mini Mission – IV – Why Mini Mission – IV ?

There are about 4000 G & P factories in India though the country needs only 1000-1200 units of economically viable size with production capacity of about 8 bales per hour. Most of the existing factories are small in size and very few among them are composite units with both ginning and pressing facilities. Ginning machines are old, and cleaning machines are rare. Trash level is, therefore, very high (5%-8% including leaf bits and immature locks referred to as kawdi). Lack of adequate civil infrastructure and employment of manual labour for handling cotton at ginneries lead to contamination for which Indian cotton has attained notoriety. The objective of Mini Mission – IV is to equip ginneries with modern machinery and adequate civil infrastructure whereby trash level could be brought down and contamination largely averted.

Since the textile mills are required to compete in the world markets, unless quality cotton is made available to them in the domestic market they would go in for more and more of imports which will be very harmful for our cotton growers and also for the G & P industry in our country. The ginners who do not opt for modernization will find it difficult to survive as they will not be able to sell their cotton either in the domestic market or in exports.

Modernization of G & P factories would also bring considerable benefits not only to the farmers, who will be able to realizes better price for their produce but to G & P factory owners also. Most of the mills in India are paying good premium for cotton processed in modern G & P factories, who follow all the modern systems installed in the factory and are also following proper management practices.

Present trash levels in Indian cottons are in the range of 5% - 8% Modernized factories will show trash content within TMC norms shown in the table below :

Staple Class	Trash Limit (%)
Extra long	2.0
Long & Superior Medium	3.0
Medium & Short	3.5
Closed boll types	6.0

It is encouraging to note that many of G & P units modernized through MM-IV are maintaining trash level of as low as 1% - 11/2% thus performing even better than the TMC’s expectation.

Funding of G & P Modernization Projects :

TMC offers financial assistance at the rate of 25% of the cost of modernization to G & P units subject to ceilings as shown below :

Components of Modernization Package:

A factory after modernization should have the following infrastructure:

Machinery:

• Ginning machines with auto feeders
• Pre-cleaner & Lint cleaner
• Automatic conveyors for kapas, lint & seed
• Bale press
• Humidifiers, Fire Hydrants, Weight bridge.

Civil Infrastructure:

• Platforms/sheds for storing kapas, lint, seeds and bales
• Roads, compound wall, and
• Buildings to house machines.

Targets for Modernization of Ginneries :

Mini Mission IV proposes to modernize as many as 500 G & P factories during its 8-year tenure. With the improvement of 500 factories it could be expected that about 40% to 50% of India’s cotton would be ginned and baled in a low-trash contamination-free form to the textile mills in our country by the year 2006-2007.

Highlights of G & P Modernization – Mini Mission – IV :

• So far 372 modernization projects have been taken up by Mini Mission IV, of which 210 projects have been completed.
• Total project cost of all 372 projects Rs.461.88 crore; TMC share : Rs.82.25 crore.

State-Wise break-up of factories under modernization :

Impact Assessment and Grading – Mini Missions III & IV:

To examne how far the investment made for improement of market yards and ginneries through TMC has been beneficial to the raw cotton sector an impact assessment is being conducted. Also being simultaneously carried out is the grading of market yards and ginning units modernized with TMC assistance. Grades thus assigned will help textile mills in procuring good quality cotton.

Methodologies have been worked out by TMc in consultation with trade and industry for impact assessment and grading of markets and ginneries whereby objective evaluation of effect of modernization on the quality of cotton becomes possible. While impact assessment will be based on the quality of infrastructural components, grade rating will take account of both infrastructure and the management style. The actual assessment is carried out independently by an official from any one of the Textile Research Association (TRAs), Textiles Committee (TC) or Central Institute for Research on Cotton Technology (CIRCOT). All factories are put to this assessment after modernization is completed and TMC share is paid.

So far 145 G & P factories and 21 market yards that have completed the modernization projects, have been assessed for impact and grade. Highlights of the assessement are given in the table below :

Integrated Cotton Cultivation (ICC) (Contract Farming):

As discussed above, the production, productivity and quality of Indian cotton are sought to be improved through the Technology Mission on Cotton (TMC) such that the growers and the textile industry are both benefited. There is no doubt whatsoever that TMC scheme is producing good results. A Visionary linkage scheme called Integrated Cotton Cultivation (ICC) that will supplement and synergize the efforts of TMC was recently mooted by the Ministry of Textiles, Government of India, the details of which are discussed in this section.

ICC is an organized farming scheme to link cotton production with cotton consumption. In this secheme, a group of growers will cultivate a particular variety of cotton required by a spinning mill. With inputs and scientific support received from exports, the farmer will produce more at lowest possible cost. The farmer and the mill will both stand to benefit.

As mentioned already, the Indian cotton is known for admixing of varieties, thanks to the typically Indian conditions such as the presence of a plethora of varieties (over 1500), the smallness of farms (2 Ha per capita) and the farmer’s freedom to select varieties at his own discretion. Mixing makes bales unpredictable in spinning performance, and the mills are unable to produce consistent and high quality yarns, which alone command premium price in the export market. For this reason, many of the EOU’s prefer to use foreign cotton known for its uniformity of characteristics.

It is also a well-known fact that the average farmer in India does not have adequate knowledge about the type of cotton needed by mills or the methods of marketing. Nor is he exposed to scientific methods of farming that can raise productivity and minimize input costs. As a result profit margin in cotton farming has eroded over the years, compelling many farmers to switch over to other crops.

Objectives of ICC :

The primary objective of ICC is to make cotton of consistent quality available to the user industry while at the same improve the productivity by providing the farmer with quality inputs such as seed, fertilizers and pesticides besides know-how on modern methods of crop management so that cotton cultivation becomes a remunerative vocation for the average Indian grower. ICC will thus transform subsistence agriculture into commercial agriculture.

How to Organize ICC :

In the TMc model of ICC, a coordinating Agency (CA) will organize the farming. The CA could be a G & P factory owner, a millowner or a trader. Any organization or corporate body can also organize ICC. The CA will select an area of assured rainfall or one with irrigation facility. The CA will also identify farmers in a few adjoining villages who will have an ownership of a total of least 1000 acres of land such that the scheme will produce about 2000 bales of octton. It will be advantageous to induct all the farmers in the villages thus selected.

The farmers should be asked to form an Association, not necessarily a registered one. The CA will interact normally only with the representatives of the Association who will have the authority from the farmers to deal with CA on their behalf. The farmers will sign MOUs with CA to (I) cultivate a particular variety (ii) follow instructions from CA and (iii) sell the entire produce to the CA at prevailing market price. The CA in turn will undertake to buy the entire crop at the then ruling market price with or without premium.

Crop Management :

The CA in consultation with experts will select the variety on the basis of local agro climatic conditions and market demands. Arrangement is to be made with a seed company to supply good quality seed of the chosen variety at wholesale price for distribution to farmers who will make cash payment directly to the company or through CA. The CA should arrange with the nearest Agricultural University or Krishi Vigyan Kendra to provide location-specific technology to the farmers. Advice on crop management particularly with regard to combating pests is vital for minimizing input costs. The CA should arrange to supply fertilizers to the farmers at wholesale prices against cash payment. Optimal use of fertilizers and water should be demonstrated to the farmers.

Identification of pests, monitoring them through scouting, observance of economic threshold levels, etc. should be taught to the farmers through involvement of an Entomologist. The use of the right pesticide and the quantity and mode of application should be demonstrated to them. Arrangements are to be made with a pesticide manufacturer for supply at wholesale price to the project farmers besides providing scouts for monitoring pest incidence so that the use of chemicals could be optimized.

Harvesting and Ginning :

Picking at the right time and in the right manner, strictly following the Best Management Practices (BMPs) prescribed by TMC, must be organized. Avoidance of foreign matter and keeping aside pest-damaged locules must be particularly emphasized.

As per terms of agreement, farmers are to be paid immediately after procurement of cotton from each picking. Premium at the rate of Rs. 25 – Rs. 50 per quintal above the market rate may be paid to farmers in the scheme.

The farmer’s Association should be required to ensure that cotton from the project farmers alone is collected and delivered to the ginnery. No other farmer’s produce should be gathered.

A modernized ginnery well equipped to deliver contamination – free cotton must be contracted to process the entire cotton from the scheme. The ginnery should make appropriate use of cleaning machines and ensure that the cotton is contaminated - free and with low trash content.

Benefits from ICC :

Several benefits are derivable from integrated farming. For the grower, there would be no dilemma about choice of seed / variety. Buying will no more be a problem for him. Loans for buying inputs will be easily available to him./ Reduced expenditure are higher yield will fetch him higher profit from cotton cultivation. Marketing cotton will not be a problem as the CA will purchase the entire stock. It is also likely that the Government comes out with incentives / concessions for contract farming in which case the grower’s income would increase further. One of them is the extension of Mini Mission – II benefits to Icc schemes also just as they are being now given to State Departments of Agriculture. Another deserving concession is permission for direct sale of cotton by the farmers in ICC schemes to the CA without bringing the cotton to the market. Yet another concession due is the waiver for market cess or a reduced cess.

The biggest beneficiary in ICC is the textile industry which will receive adequate supplies of good quality unmixed and uncontaminated cotton. There would be no more need to import cotton and thus there could be saving in precious foreign exchange.

ICC will bring several benefits to the CA. It is important to note that ICC involves no extra investment whatsoever for the CA. It serves to establish order in an otherwise chaotic cotton cultivation sector in the country. For a ginner-cum-trader as CA, ICC will ensure cotton supplies to maximize capacity utilization of the ginnery and thus bring higher profits. Superior quality of cotton generated in ICC schemes will facilitate easy marketing of bales, leading to faster turnover. Premium price will be possible for high quality cotton. Moreover, patronage of elite mills will itself be a guarantee for prompt payments and higher net returns.

Milestone in ICC :

It is now over two years since ICC was formally launched by the Textile Ministry. The Cotton Corporation of India has taken the lead by assuming the role of CA as well as of a facilitator helping private agencies undertaking farming. In these ICC schemes, seed, fertilizer and pesticides suppliers from private and public sectors played significant roles.

The area covered under ICC schemes has recorded an impressive increase in the last two years as shown by the following data :

The prospects for 2004-05 are even brighter. Reputed mills in northern India as well as many ginning factory owners in almost all parts of the country seem to be determined to join the ICC bandwagon.

Technology Mission on Cotton

Introduction

With the liberalization of world trade following the progressive phasing out of the Multi Fibre Arrangement (MFA), quality and price competitiveness are becoming the most important criteria for good export performance of Indian Textiles. Even for domestic use the textile goods will have to excel in quality and be competitive in price because the Indian markets would become flooded with foreign goods that will find unlimited access into our country after 2004.

Two important requirements for good performance of Indian textiles in the domestic and export markets are
(i) advanced manufacturing technology and
(ii) availability of quality raw materials. In 1999-2000, the Government of India launched two schemes for the well-being of the textile economy as a whole. One is the Technical Upgradation Fund Scheme (TUFs) for modernization of the textile production and processing industries. The other is the Technology Mission on Cotton (TMC) which is a multi-dimensional scheme with four compent Mini Missions to improve the availability of good quality cotton to the Indian textile industry and at the same time ensure that the average farmer earns adequate profit from cotton cultivation. This paper discusses the achievements so far made under Mini Missions III & IV of TMC.

Importance Of Textiles in National Economy

Cotton is a crop that exerts considerable influence on India’s economy particularly textiles. It secures livelihood for about 60 million people engaged in various vocations related to farming trade and textile industry. One-third of India’s export earnings comes from textiles and 20% from cotton textiles alone. Strengthening of the raw material base by raising productivity and quality of cotton to match international standards is necessary to secure a prominent and sustainable global standing for Indian textiles.

Indian Cotton Scenario

India is the country with largest area in the world under cotton (around 7.8 million hectares approximately). However, it is only the third largest producer of cotton in the world after China and USA (Production: 140 lakh bales in 2002-03). Yield is, however, one of the lowest in the world – less than 300 kg/ha (world average: 631 kg/ha, Australia: 1277 kg/ha, China: 1177 kg/ha, USA: 743 kg/ha). Poor productivity of cotton in India is attributable to factories such as low yield potential of most varieties, absence of irrigation facility in two-thirds of the area under this crop, high pest incidence, etc.

India has the distinction of cultivating cotton of all staple classes – short, medium, long and extra long. This is the only country in the world where cottons belonging to all four major species are grown. Commercial cultivation of hybrid cotton first started in India where at present about 40% of production is of hybrids. The cost of cotton cultivation in India has been increasing due to large pesticide consumption. As a result the profitability of cultivation has eroded considerably over the years. It is ironical that despite adequate domestic production, mills are buying imported cotton of superior fibre quality at low price available with credit facility. Such imports tend to reduce the demand for Indian cotton, to the detriment of the average grower.

The cotton ginning scenario till recently presented a dismal picture. Ginning & Pressing factories are many but machines are old, inefficient and poorly maintained. Pre-cleaning of cotton as an exception rather than the rule. Materials handling is mostly done by manual means. As a result, the baled cotton is trashy and contaminated. Ginneries have remained indifferent to modernization because most mills were not willing to pay adequate premium for clean cotton.

Deficiencies in the Cotton Sector:

The raw cotton sector in India suffers from a plethora of deficiencies. Some of these are listed below :

• High Cost of cultivation
• Poor quality of seeds and pesticides
• Multiplicity of cotton varieties Leading to rampant mixing
• Poor fibre attributes of most varieties of cotton particularly in respect of micronaire and strength
• Tardy transfer of agricultural technologies from research farms to the farmers’ fields
• Improper handling of harvested cotton at the farm yard leading to contamination
• Poor infrastructure at market yards also contribute to further addition of impurities numbering over 20 types.
• High Trash content in cotton (5%-8%) despite being handpicked resulting from the absence of pre-cleaning and lint cleaning at ginneries

Technology Mission on Cotton (TMC):

In order to remove the deficiencies in the cotton sector and to place the cotton economy on a sound footing within a limited time frame, the Government of India set up the Technology Mission on Cotton. Formally launched on 19^th February 2000 by the Prime Minister, the Mission was intended for a 5-year term commencing from 1999-2000, but it has since been extended by 3 more years to cover the entire X^th Plan period ending with 2006-07.

The Technology Mission on Cotton (TMC) has four component Mini Missions, as follows:

Mini Mission I	Cotton Research & Tech. Generation Nodal Agency : ICAR
Mini Mission II	Transfer of Technology & Development Nodal Agency : DAC-MOA
Mini Mission III	Development of Market Infrastructure Modernization/upgradation of G&P factories Nodal Agency : MM-III & IV - MOT
Mini Mission IV

The objectives of TMC are the following:

Firstly, to augment the income of cotton growers and ensure availability of quality cotton to industry in required quantities by :

• improving the quality of cotton particularly in respect of staple length, micronaire and strength;
• increasing the productivity of cotton; and
• reducing the cost of cultivation.

Secondly, to reduce contamination in cotton by :

• improving infrastructure of cotton agricultural markets and
• modernizing Ginning & Pressing Factories.

Mini Mission - I:

The broad objective of Mini Mission – I is the improvement of production, productivity and quality of cotton through wide-ranging R & D endeavours. A total of 8 programmes have been so far taken up under this Mini Mission. The number of research projects under these 8 programmes is 23. The project involves all the 13 Agricultural Universities in the cotton growing State besides CICR, Nagpur and CIRCOT, Mumbai.

Several breeding materials have been evolved under diploid and tetraploid improvement projects with desirable fibre parameters and resistance to biotic and a biotic stresses. Soil site characteristics for the suitability of cotton production have been identified. Location-specific IPM modules have been developed and demonstrated on a large scale. Technology intervention programme has been initiated in different States.

Mini Mission – II:

The broad objective of Mini Mission – II is to reach the technologies developed in research farms and laboratories to the farmers’ fields. The Department of Agriculture & Co-operation under the Ministry of Agriculture, Government of India is the nodal agency for this Mini Mission. The programme is being implemented through the Directorate of Cotton Development with the active participation of the State Departments of Agriculture in more or less the same manner as Integrated Cotton Development Programme (ICDP).

The Mini Mission – II programme has 12 different components for most of which the Government of India share would be as high as 75% while the remaining 25% will be borne by the concerned State Government. The components include seed subsidy, demonstration of technologies, input supply.

With the information transferred to the farmers on the methods of reducing the quantum of inputs and maximizing productivity of cotton, Mini Mission – II hopes to bring about a transformation in the cotton production scenario in the country. Increase in yield targeted to be 500 kg/ha by 2006-07 in cotton cultivation in the years to come.

Mini Mission – III – Why Mini Mission – III ?

Indian cotton is regarded as the most unclean cotton with high trash and contamination levels. Over 20 types of contaminants are known to get mixed with cotton at different stages beginning with harvesting.

It is, however, at the market yard that a major part of contaminants gets added to raw cotton. The aim of Mini Missions III is to plug the sources of contamination. Such that no foreign matter is added to cotton during its handling at the market yard. For this, the infrastructural facilities at the markets are being improved through this Mini Mission.

Funding of Market Yard Development : TMC’s Role

Under Mini Mission III, new markets are being developed and existing markets improved. The concerned APMC with the participation of the Agricultural Marketing Dept. of the State Government would carry out the project with. Financial assistance from the GOI to the extent of 60% of the project cost subject to ceilings as shown below :-

Components of Market Development package :

Market yards being developed through Mini Mission III will have basic infrastructure as well as a package of additional facilities. While basic infrastructure will serve to avert contamination of cotton at the market premises, the additional facilities will bring wide ranging benefits to the farmer community. The improvements thus sought to be made in markets are listed below :-

(A) I. Essential facilities :

• Cemented Roads
• Pucca Platforms
• Sheds
• Godown
• Parking Place
• Fire fight Arrangements
• Weigh Bridge

II. Essential Amenities :

• Farmers’ Rest House
• Canteen for Farmers
• Drinking Water
• Sanitation

III. Desirable Systems :

• Proper auction/tender system to ensure fair deal for the farmer
• Maintenance of proper records to ensure transparency
• Timely payment to the farmers
• Regular maintenance of cleanliness in the premises

(B) Additional Facilities/Activities :

Mini Missions III & IV are not only achieving the targets set for IX^th as well as X^th Plans, but have taken several steps to improve the Income of cotton growers. Some of the steps taken are -

1. Setting up of Farmers’ Information Centres (FICs) – Equipped with modern IT facilities, the FICs will have a Kiosk as well as an Interactive Voice Response System (IVRS) which will give information to cotton growers in respect of all the activities relating to crop management starting from soil test, climatic conditions, rainfall, suitability of seeds, availability of inputs, market information in a particular mandi & nearby mandis, other States, in the country and also in the world.
2. Input Supply Shops – All market yards developed under TMC are being equipped with input supply shops, providing good quality seeds, fertilizers, pesticides and bio-agents at reasonable price to cotton growers.
3. Grading Laboratory – Each market yard taken up under TMC is being equipped with a Cotton Testing Laboratory to ensure that the farmer gets price matching with cotton quality and does not fall victim to unfair trade.
4. Awareness Meetings – Awareness meetings are held at State level as well as at the APMC level in order to educate farmers, market functionaries and ginners about the perils of cotton contamination and the ways and means to avert it so that cotton quality is preserved.
5. Best Management Practices (BMPs) – Literature prepared by TMC Cell in the form of Do’s and Don’ts in local language for reducing contamination at farm level, market yard level and in G & P factories and thus improve cotton quality is distributed in Awareness meetings for the information of all concerned.

BMPs in abridged form are also displayed on Awareness Boards at market yards and ginning factories.

Targets for Market Yard Development:

During the 8-year period from 1999-2000 to 2006-2007, Mini Mission III intends to develop as many as 111 market yards either through improvement of existing markets or by setting up new ones. These market yards are expected to handle about 60% of India’s cotton which could thus be delivered to ginneries in a clean, contamination-free from by 2006-2007.

Highlights of Market Development – Mini Mission – III

• All the 111 market development projects targeted under Mini Mission – III have been already approved, of which 61 have been completed.
• The total project cost of the 111 projects : Rs. 194.23 crore; TMC share Rs.97.45 crore.
• State-wise break-up of market yards taken up for development is shown in the Table below:

Mini Mission – IV – Why Mini Mission – IV ?

There are about 4000 G & P factories in India though the country needs only 1000-1200 units of economically viable size with production capacity of about 8 bales per hour. Most of the existing factories are small in size and very few among them are composite units with both ginning and pressing facilities. Ginning machines are old, and cleaning machines are rare. Trash level is, therefore, very high (5%-8% including leaf bits and immature locks referred to as kawdi). Lack of adequate civil infrastructure and employment of manual labour for handling cotton at ginneries lead to contamination for which Indian cotton has attained notoriety. The objective of Mini Mission – IV is to equip ginneries with modern machinery and adequate civil infrastructure whereby trash level could be brought down and contamination largely averted.

Since the textile mills are required to compete in the world markets, unless quality cotton is made available to them in the domestic market they would go in for more and more of imports which will be very harmful for our cotton growers and also for the G & P industry in our country. The ginners who do not opt for modernization will find it difficult to survive as they will not be able to sell their cotton either in the domestic market or in exports.

Modernization of G & P factories would also bring considerable benefits not only to the farmers, who will be able to realizes better price for their produce but to G & P factory owners also. Most of the mills in India are paying good premium for cotton processed in modern G & P factories, who follow all the modern systems installed in the factory and are also following proper management practices.

Present trash levels in Indian cottons are in the range of 5% - 8% Modernized factories will show trash content within TMC norms shown in the table below :

Staple Class	Trash Limit (%)
Extra long	2.0
Long & Superior Medium	3.0
Medium & Short	3.5
Closed boll types	6.0

It is encouraging to note that many of G & P units modernized through MM-IV are maintaining trash level of as low as 1% - 11/2% thus performing even better than the TMC’s expectation.

Funding of G & P Modernization Projects :

TMC offers financial assistance at the rate of 25% of the cost of modernization to G & P units subject to ceilings as shown below :

Components of Modernization Package:

A factory after modernization should have the following infrastructure:

Machinery:

• Ginning machines with auto feeders
• Pre-cleaner & Lint cleaner
• Automatic conveyors for kapas, lint & seed
• Bale press
• Humidifiers, Fire Hydrants, Weight bridge.

Civil Infrastructure:

• Platforms/sheds for storing kapas, lint, seeds and bales
• Roads, compound wall, and
• Buildings to house machines.

Targets for Modernization of Ginneries :

Mini Mission IV proposes to modernize as many as 500 G & P factories during its 8-year tenure. With the improvement of 500 factories it could be expected that about 40% to 50% of India’s cotton would be ginned and baled in a low-trash contamination-free form to the textile mills in our country by the year 2006-2007.

Highlights of G & P Modernization – Mini Mission – IV :

• So far 372 modernization projects have been taken up by Mini Mission IV, of which 210 projects have been completed.
• Total project cost of all 372 projects Rs.461.88 crore; TMC share : Rs.82.25 crore.

State-Wise break-up of factories under modernization :

Impact Assessment and Grading – Mini Missions III & IV:

To examne how far the investment made for improement of market yards and ginneries through TMC has been beneficial to the raw cotton sector an impact assessment is being conducted. Also being simultaneously carried out is the grading of market yards and ginning units modernized with TMC assistance. Grades thus assigned will help textile mills in procuring good quality cotton.

Methodologies have been worked out by TMc in consultation with trade and industry for impact assessment and grading of markets and ginneries whereby objective evaluation of effect of modernization on the quality of cotton becomes possible. While impact assessment will be based on the quality of infrastructural components, grade rating will take account of both infrastructure and the management style. The actual assessment is carried out independently by an official from any one of the Textile Research Association (TRAs), Textiles Committee (TC) or Central Institute for Research on Cotton Technology (CIRCOT). All factories are put to this assessment after modernization is completed and TMC share is paid.

So far 145 G & P factories and 21 market yards that have completed the modernization projects, have been assessed for impact and grade. Highlights of the assessement are given in the table below :

Integrated Cotton Cultivation (ICC) (Contract Farming):

As discussed above, the production, productivity and quality of Indian cotton are sought to be improved through the Technology Mission on Cotton (TMC) such that the growers and the textile industry are both benefited. There is no doubt whatsoever that TMC scheme is producing good results. A Visionary linkage scheme called Integrated Cotton Cultivation (ICC) that will supplement and synergize the efforts of TMC was recently mooted by the Ministry of Textiles, Government of India, the details of which are discussed in this section.

ICC is an organized farming scheme to link cotton production with cotton consumption. In this secheme, a group of growers will cultivate a particular variety of cotton required by a spinning mill. With inputs and scientific support received from exports, the farmer will produce more at lowest possible cost. The farmer and the mill will both stand to benefit.

As mentioned already, the Indian cotton is known for admixing of varieties, thanks to the typically Indian conditions such as the presence of a plethora of varieties (over 1500), the smallness of farms (2 Ha per capita) and the farmer’s freedom to select varieties at his own discretion. Mixing makes bales unpredictable in spinning performance, and the mills are unable to produce consistent and high quality yarns, which alone command premium price in the export market. For this reason, many of the EOU’s prefer to use foreign cotton known for its uniformity of characteristics.

It is also a well-known fact that the average farmer in India does not have adequate knowledge about the type of cotton needed by mills or the methods of marketing. Nor is he exposed to scientific methods of farming that can raise productivity and minimize input costs. As a result profit margin in cotton farming has eroded over the years, compelling many farmers to switch over to other crops.

Objectives of ICC :

The primary objective of ICC is to make cotton of consistent quality available to the user industry while at the same improve the productivity by providing the farmer with quality inputs such as seed, fertilizers and pesticides besides know-how on modern methods of crop management so that cotton cultivation becomes a remunerative vocation for the average Indian grower. ICC will thus transform subsistence agriculture into commercial agriculture.

How to Organize ICC :

In the TMc model of ICC, a coordinating Agency (CA) will organize the farming. The CA could be a G & P factory owner, a millowner or a trader. Any organization or corporate body can also organize ICC. The CA will select an area of assured rainfall or one with irrigation facility. The CA will also identify farmers in a few adjoining villages who will have an ownership of a total of least 1000 acres of land such that the scheme will produce about 2000 bales of octton. It will be advantageous to induct all the farmers in the villages thus selected.

The farmers should be asked to form an Association, not necessarily a registered one. The CA will interact normally only with the representatives of the Association who will have the authority from the farmers to deal with CA on their behalf. The farmers will sign MOUs with CA to (I) cultivate a particular variety (ii) follow instructions from CA and (iii) sell the entire produce to the CA at prevailing market price. The CA in turn will undertake to buy the entire crop at the then ruling market price with or without premium.

Crop Management :

The CA in consultation with experts will select the variety on the basis of local agro climatic conditions and market demands. Arrangement is to be made with a seed company to supply good quality seed of the chosen variety at wholesale price for distribution to farmers who will make cash payment directly to the company or through CA. The CA should arrange with the nearest Agricultural University or Krishi Vigyan Kendra to provide location-specific technology to the farmers. Advice on crop management particularly with regard to combating pests is vital for minimizing input costs. The CA should arrange to supply fertilizers to the farmers at wholesale prices against cash payment. Optimal use of fertilizers and water should be demonstrated to the farmers.

Identification of pests, monitoring them through scouting, observance of economic threshold levels, etc. should be taught to the farmers through involvement of an Entomologist. The use of the right pesticide and the quantity and mode of application should be demonstrated to them. Arrangements are to be made with a pesticide manufacturer for supply at wholesale price to the project farmers besides providing scouts for monitoring pest incidence so that the use of chemicals could be optimized.

Harvesting and Ginning :

Picking at the right time and in the right manner, strictly following the Best Management Practices (BMPs) prescribed by TMC, must be organized. Avoidance of foreign matter and keeping aside pest-damaged locules must be particularly emphasized.

As per terms of agreement, farmers are to be paid immediately after procurement of cotton from each picking. Premium at the rate of Rs. 25 – Rs. 50 per quintal above the market rate may be paid to farmers in the scheme.

The farmer’s Association should be required to ensure that cotton from the project farmers alone is collected and delivered to the ginnery. No other farmer’s produce should be gathered.

A modernized ginnery well equipped to deliver contamination – free cotton must be contracted to process the entire cotton from the scheme. The ginnery should make appropriate use of cleaning machines and ensure that the cotton is contaminated - free and with low trash content.

Benefits from ICC :

Several benefits are derivable from integrated farming. For the grower, there would be no dilemma about choice of seed / variety. Buying will no more be a problem for him. Loans for buying inputs will be easily available to him./ Reduced expenditure are higher yield will fetch him higher profit from cotton cultivation. Marketing cotton will not be a problem as the CA will purchase the entire stock. It is also likely that the Government comes out with incentives / concessions for contract farming in which case the grower’s income would increase further. One of them is the extension of Mini Mission – II benefits to Icc schemes also just as they are being now given to State Departments of Agriculture. Another deserving concession is permission for direct sale of cotton by the farmers in ICC schemes to the CA without bringing the cotton to the market. Yet another concession due is the waiver for market cess or a reduced cess.

The biggest beneficiary in ICC is the textile industry which will receive adequate supplies of good quality unmixed and uncontaminated cotton. There would be no more need to import cotton and thus there could be saving in precious foreign exchange.

ICC will bring several benefits to the CA. It is important to note that ICC involves no extra investment whatsoever for the CA. It serves to establish order in an otherwise chaotic cotton cultivation sector in the country. For a ginner-cum-trader as CA, ICC will ensure cotton supplies to maximize capacity utilization of the ginnery and thus bring higher profits. Superior quality of cotton generated in ICC schemes will facilitate easy marketing of bales, leading to faster turnover. Premium price will be possible for high quality cotton. Moreover, patronage of elite mills will itself be a guarantee for prompt payments and higher net returns.

Milestone in ICC :

It is now over two years since ICC was formally launched by the Textile Ministry. The Cotton Corporation of India has taken the lead by assuming the role of CA as well as of a facilitator helping private agencies undertaking farming. In these ICC schemes, seed, fertilizer and pesticides suppliers from private and public sectors played significant roles.

The area covered under ICC schemes has recorded an impressive increase in the last two years as shown by the following data :

The prospects for 2004-05 are even brighter. Reputed mills in northern India as well as many ginning factory owners in almost all parts of the country seem to be determined to join the ICC bandwagon.