What was once a heavily imported item, cotton has become one of the principle crops in India. Since the 1970′s, when the Government successfully introduced programs to boost the domestic cotton trade, India has emerged as the second largest cotton producer and consumer in the world.

Economics

This field of cotton waits to be harvested in Rajasthan

An estimated 46.6 million people are employed in some fashion by the cotton industry in India. As annual yields have continued to increase, jobs have also followed. In fact, cotton production has grown so significantly in recent years that India now lays claim as the world’s second largest exporter behind the U.S. Major export destinations are Bangladesh, Pakistan, China (Mainland) and other Far-east countries.

Contributing to the demand for raw cotton is the Indian textile industry. India is the second largest producer of textiles and garments behind China with a 3.9% share of the global textile market. ‘Made in India’ is quickly becoming a common sight in the retail sector across the globe. From high-end labels such as Banana Republic and Ralph Lauren to budget labels like Old Navy, Indian textile mills are using Indian grown cotton to stitch the fashions of tomorrow.

Production

India is divided into three cotton producing zones:

Northern Zone- Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan

Planting: Mid-April – May

Harvesting: September – December

Central Zone- Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat

Planting: June – July (Depending on monsoon)

Harvesting: October – February

Southern Zone- Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka* and Tamil Nadu*

Planting: June – August

Harvesting: October – February

*Karnataka and Tamil Nadu enjoy two annual growing seasons. Planting for the summer crop extends January – February with harvest in May – July.

Besides these 9 states, cotton cultivation is gaining momentum in the state of Orissa. About 70% of total cotton production is accounted by the states of Gujarat, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh.

This cotton bud is within days of popping open, a ready sign for harvesting

Gujarat is the leading cotton growing state while Maharashtra devotes the largest area to cotton cultivation in the country. With an estimated 4 million farms, India has the largest area devoted to cotton production in the world.

This massive cultivated area could yield more than current levels if it weren’t for the shortage of water in India. Approximately 65% of India’s cotton is produced on rain-fed areas. And while the industry may rely on hand harvesting methods in many areas, growers have kept up with modern improvements in seed technology. India is the only country to grow all four species of cultivated cotton (2 types of Asian cotton, Egyptian cotton and American Upland cotton). Within these species, India produces a large number of cotton varieties and hybrids designed to produce maximum yields until current water restrictions.

Organic cotton farming practices are still widely used even as the industry has attempted to reap more production from it’s crops. Throughout Gujarat, Maharashtra & Karnataka, organic farming is still the norm. Cultivation of cotton with organic methods has helped farmers to improve sustainable productivity in central India where poor distribution of rainfall and eroding landscapes are reason for concern.

Travelers passing the country landscape between tourist destinations will see fields filled with budding cotton during prime season. Unlike other countries which make touching, smelling and learning of national crops near impossible, access to cotton fields in India takes as much effort as pulling to the roadside, stepping out and walking a few feet. Workers within the cotton fields, be it running the irrigation systems or harvesting the plants give no heed to foreigners interested in inspecting the plants up-close.

Cotton, a small plant capable of being harvested for up to two years after budding, is just a small part of the business of India.