Organic Cotton Thorny Issues Stifle Growth

India is still miles away from tapping the full potential of organic cotton despite a major global share of 56 per cent and a promise of 20 per cent higher return for farmers from this white gold. An ITJ Exclusive portrays the problems and prospects.

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India’s organic cotton has many thorny issues: Low-yield borne of unsuitable varieties, Bt-cotton contamination and lack of coordinated efforts to develop desi types have been choking this potential raw material. India is the largest producer of organic cotton in the world after overtaking Turkey and accounts for almost 56 per cent of the global organic cotton production.

“India has immense potential for organic cotton production. However, the yields of organic cotton in India are low at 318 kg lint per hectare in 2106, mainly because of the wrong choice of varieties for organic cultivation. Hybrid cotton is chemical-input intensive and is unsuitable for organic cultivation. It must be avoided for organic systems in India,” says KR Kranthi, Head, Technical Information Section, International Cotton Advisory Committee (ICAC).

In India, the area under organic cotton rose last year, paradoxically production fell. However, the organic wave is picking up speed thanks to sustainability gaining more space in textiles. Farmers are keen to take up organic cotton mainly because the return is higher by at least 20 per cent compared to Bt cotton. Besides, manufacturers for garment export markets are ready to give premium for the organic stuff.