HISTORY

Cotton, the "white gold", is India’s principal commercial crop. It constitutes about 85 per cent of the raw material of textile industry in India. India ranks first in the world in cotton area 7.6 m. ha (23%) and fourth in production with 11.6 m. bales (about 11%).

Its productivity in India had increased by 461 percent in last 50 years 1947-48 to 1995-96 with only 50 percent increase in area under cultivation.

The production and protection technologies of cotton were exploited for achieving these levels under the changing cropping patterns.

North zone’s (Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan and Western U.P) contribution was 33% in total production of the country from 22% area.

Area and Production

Haryana is an important producer of short, medium and superior medium staple cotton. It produces 14.50 lakh bales from 5.0 lakh ha area under cotton cultivation in the state.

1. Area

Area under cotton in Haryana is increasing since 1950's onwards. During 50's (1950-51) total area under both the species American Narma (Gossypium hirsutum L.) and desi cotton (G.arboreum L.) was merely 54 thousand hectares. It followed an abrupt increase in the area under cotton reaching to nearly double (93 thousand ha) in 1960-61 and 193.4 thousand ha in 1970-71 respectively. There had been an steady increase in mean area of 7.8 percent annually to the tune of 489.0 thousand ha in 1990-91. However the area under cotton is stabilising around 500 thousand ha. It is worth mentioning that area under desi cotton remained more than American Narma till 1975-76. Later there was continuous increase of American cotton over Asiatic cotton and it rose to almost double during 1980-81. Area under desi cotton is around 150 thousand ha against 480 thousand ha of American cotton during 2001-2002. It is thereby indicative of the preference given by the farmers for growing of American Cotton. Finally in 2006-2007, Haryana's total cotton production area as per Cotton Advisory Board Estimates is 5.33 lakh hectares.

2. Production

Since 1950-51 there was tremendous increase in the production of cotton in Haryana. It is accomplished with the increase in area under cotton and also productivity level was increased significantly with the development of new cotton varieties. There was five fold increase in the total production of cotton beginning with merely 54.8 thousand bales in 1950-51 and rose to 291.60 thousand bales of 170 kg each in 1965-66. There was a new record of cotton production of 901 thousand bales in 1986-87. Haryana witnessed a all time new record production of 1504 thousand bales in 1996-97. In 2006 -2007 Haryana's cotton production as per CAB Estimates is around 15.00 lakh bales.

3. Productivity

The productivity level of 179 kg/ha in 1950-51 followed by 268 kg/ha in 1965-66 has reached to 308.7 kg/ha 1971-72. Big jump was recorded in 1991-92 by producing 451 kg/ha lint. Afterwards it started increasing and as per CAB Estimates the productivity for 2006-07 is 478 Kg / ha.

COTTON GROWING CONDITIONS

1. The soil type ranges from sandy to sandy loam. The soils, being low in organic matter content, are of poor fertility status needs judicious use of nutrients for good crop.
2. Cotton crop is essentially an irrigated crop in the states. The major source of irrigation is canals and tube - wells are also important in some area. The sowings have to be staggered over 45-60 days from mid April to mid June depending upon the availability of pre planting irrigation.
3. The severe winters after November and monsoon rains in July and August restrict the effective fruiting period from August 15 to end of September.
4. The soil temperature and wind velocity at planting time is very high resulting in rapid loss of soil moisture and burning of cotton seedling in the fields.
5. Cotton wheat rotation is being followed by the farmers taking two crops in a year in the cotton growing tract of the state. The duration of the cotton varieties has to be kept to suit and to ensure maximum returns per unit time and area.
6. The Jassids and bollworms (Heliothis, spotted and occasionally pink) are serious pest in the state. Bacterial blight (Xanthomonas campestris pv. Malvacearum), Alternaria leaf spot (Myrothecium roridum), root rot (R.solani and R.bataticola), and wilt (Fusarium spp) are diseases of this tract. The chemicals still remain the major component for the control on insect pest and diseases.

Cotton Production in Haryana

• *Cotton lint in thousand bales of 170 Kg each.
• Source: Statistical Abstract of Haryana (1997/98).
• Issued by: Govt. of Haryana, Economic and Statistical Organization, Planning Department, (1999).