India has recorded the lowest cotton production in the entire world with 468 kilograms per hectare compared to 774 kilograms per hectare regarding the global rate.
CAI (Cotton Association of India) calls for removing the 11% import duty imposed on cotton production during the previous year. The textile industry is observed with working at half its installed capacity.
“The government imposed an 11% import duty on cotton from 2 February 2021. This has drastically eroded the competitiveness of our value-added products in the international markets. Our textile industry, the second largest employment provider in the country, is now constrained to work with only 50% of its installed capacity,” said Atul S. Ganatra, president, of CAI.
Short staple fibers produce cotton that is great for basic, everyday use. Concerned about the availability of Extra Long Staple Cotton (ELS) in India, the association said India needs around 20,000 bales of Extra Long Staple Cotton (ELS) per year but produces around 5,000 bales. Atul S. Ganatra, president, of CAI. added that cotton farmers would benefit from a higher minimum support price to stimulate ELS cotton production.
“This is below the cotton productivity of some of the smaller countries like Bangladesh, Syria, Sudan, etc,” Ganatra said.
