| Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) • It is the most important commercial crop known as the “King of natural fiber” and commonly referred to as “White Gold”. • Cotton belongs to the family Malvaceae and genus Gossypium. • India has the sole distinction of growing all four cultivated species of cotton and their intra- and inter-specific hybrids. • In India, cotton is grown in three distinct agro-ecological zones, viz., Northern (Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan), Central (Gujarat, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh) and Southern zone (Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka). |
- India’s cotton cultivation is expected to decline by 10-12% this season.
- The crop yields in India average 480 kg per hectare, significantly lower than the global average of 800 kg per hectare.
- The northern region, including Punjab and Rajasthan, saw a 35% reduction in crop size due to pink bollworm infestation.
- The pink bollworm (Pectinophora gossypiella) is the most important cotton pest in the world.
- After hatching, larvae enter squares, flowers, or bolls, feeding on seeds and fiber, causing lint retardation and moving through bolls by making holes.
- Additionally, the government has increased the Minimum Support Price for raw cotton by ₹500 per quintal for the 2024-2025 season.
Dig Deeper: Read about potential plant disease pandemics.
