Gujarat: Cotton production rises by 5 million bales under Modi's leadership
Gujarat: "Under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi, the Gujarat cotton industry has grown by over 50 lakh bales," said Raghavji Patel.Gujarat Agriculture Minister Raghavji Patel said that, under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi as the Chief Minister of Gujarat, the state's cotton sector has undergone remarkable transformation over the past two decades, a press release from the Chief Minister's Office stated.Raghavji Patel said, "Thanks to various initiatives under the strong leadership of Prime Minister Modi, the area under cotton cultivation in Gujarat has increased from 17.49 lakh hectares in 2001-02 to 23.71 lakh hectares by 2024-25.During this period, cotton production increased from 17 lakh bales to 71 lakh bales, while productivity increased from 165 kg lint per hectare to 512 kg lint per hectare.Describing cotton as one of the most essential needs of human life, Patel said that after food, clothing is of paramount importance, and cotton plays a vital role in fulfilling this need. The world celebrates October 7th as "World Cotton Day" to acknowledge its global importance.Cotton, often referred to as "white gold," has deep roots in Gujarat, which has been a progressive and leading state in cotton cultivation for decades.Gujarat's cotton sector holds great importance for both the state and the nation. When the state was formed in 1960, its cotton productivity was only 139 kilograms of lint per hectare; however, today it has increased to 512 kilograms of lint per hectare, exceeding the national average.These statistics clearly demonstrate that through research advancements, comprehensive development initiatives, farmer-oriented government policies, and the dedicated efforts of farmers, Gujarat has generated billions of rupees in revenue from cotton—a significant achievement for the economy of any state.Giving detailed information about cotton, Raghavji Patel explained that at the time of India's independence, while most textile mills were located in India, major cotton-producing regions became part of Pakistan. As a result, India faced a shortage of raw cotton and had to import it from other countries at a significant cost of foreign exchange.In 1971, following research at the Surat Research Farm, the Hybrid-4 (Shankar-4) cotton variety was developed, ushering in the hybrid cotton era across India. This led to a rapid and substantial increase in the country's cotton productivity. As a result, India not only met its domestic raw cotton needs but also began exporting the surplus. He further stated that in 2020-21, India recorded a historic cotton export of ₹17,914 crore.Gujarat currently ranks second in the country in terms of cotton cultivation area, production, and productivity. So far, cotton has been sown on 21.39 lakh hectares in the state for the 2025-26 season, with an estimated production of 73 lakh bales. The state contributes approximately 20 percent to India's total cotton cultivation and approximately 25 percent to total cotton production.The Minister expressed confidence that with the state government's various incentive schemes and continued efforts to develop cotton, Gujarat is poised to become the country's leading cotton production hub, contributing the largest share to India's total production.The Minister noted that even during the Bt cotton era, Gujarat was at the forefront in developing Bt hybrid varieties and obtaining their official approval across the country. Thanks to the state government's coordinated efforts, the first two Bt hybrid varieties in the public sector—Gujarat Cotton Hybrid-6 (Shankar-6) BG-II and Gujarat Cotton Hybrid-8 (Shankar-8) BG-II—received approval from the Government of India in 2012. Later, in 2015, two additional varieties were also approved. Bt hybrids – Gujarat Cotton Hybrid-10 (Shankar-10) BG-II and Gujarat Cotton Hybrid-12 (Shankar-12) BG-II – were developed, providing Gujarat farmers with four Bt cotton varieties for cultivation.The Minister highlighted that with the continued growth in the global population, the demand for cotton seeds for natural fibres, textiles, edible oils and animal feed is projected to increase 1.5 times by 2030 and double by 2040 compared to current levels. He stressed that by focusing on research, innovation and advanced solutions and achieving self-sufficiency in domestic production, Gujarat can significantly contribute to the Indian economy through cotton exports. (ANI)read more :- Cotton procurement to begin in Telangana this week
