Cotton production technologies in India: Achievements and future areas of research

Cotton (Gossypium spp.) is commercially grown in India under three diverse groups namely, Asiatic, American or Egyptian cotton and is mostly used as an important natural fibre. Being adopted under tropical and subtropical condition, it is widely cultivated as a semi-xerophytic forced annual. The latest quantum jump in its production of 35.2 million bales during 2011–12 from an area of 12.2 million hectares is attributed to several technological changes that have taken place since 2002, the year of Bt cotton introduction in India. It is the resultant effects from the introduction of Bt-cotton, vigorous technical promotion and adoption by state governments, novel pesticides, Technology Mission in Cotton (TMC), integrated resistance/pests management (IRM/IPM) and improved agronomy including integrated nutrient management (INM). Favourable weather conditions and low bollworm infestation, good market price and governmental policy have also contributed a new dimension towards its profitable cultivation. Best management practices (BMPs) for achieving Millennium Developmental Goals have also resulted in lesser crop failure and higher productivity/income to farmers. It is only such a mixture of modern technologies that will probably mitigate the effect of global climate change and lessen the ever expanding abotic/biotic stresses, reduce/balance the attack/load from transbounding pests as well as putting a buffer against ever shrinking per capita land and water availability. Therefore, many of the technologies that help lowering down the production costs or raising farm output/income with the same input or both, have definitely an edge or a preference by the farmers. An attempt is made to have a holistic awareness about research achievements in cotton production technologies in quality fibre production on Indian perspective keeping in view the future needs so that necessary impetus in its productivity and profitability could further be realized.