Published on: February 5, 2025
EXTRA-LONG STAPLE (ELS) COTTON IN INDIA
EXTRA-LONG STAPLE (ELS) COTTON IN INDIA
What is ELS Cotton?
- Cotton is classified by fiber length: short, medium, and long staple.
- ELS cotton has a fiber length of 30 mm or more.
- Most ELS cotton comes from Gossypium barbadense (Egyptian or Pima cotton).
- It’s primarily grown in China, Egypt, Australia, and Peru.
- In India, limited ELS cotton is grown in Maharashtra’s Sangli district and around Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu.
- ELS cotton produces high-quality fabric, often blended with medium staple cotton for improved quality. India imports significant quantities of ELS cotton.
Why Doesn’t India Grow More ELS Cotton?
- Lower Yields: ELS cotton yields (7-8 quintals/acre) are significantly lower than medium staple varieties (10-12 quintals/acre). This is a major deterrent for farmers.
- Market Linkages: Farmers often struggle to get premium prices for their ELS cotton due to weak market linkages.
- MSP Difference: While the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for long staple cotton is slightly higher than medium staple, it doesn’t offset the lower yields.
- Focus on Medium Staple: Gossypium hirsutum, the dominant variety in India (96%), is a medium staple cotton (25-28.6 mm).
India’s Cotton Productivity Issues:
- India’s per acre cotton yields are much lower compared to countries like Brazil (20 quintals/acre) and China (15 quintals/acre).
How Can the Cotton Mission Help?
- The mission aims to improve productivity and sustainability of cotton farming and promote ELS cotton.
- Technology Adoption: Focus on providing farmers with access to the latest technologies, including potentially GM technology, to improve yields and pest management.
- Addressing Yield Gap: The mission should focus on addressing the yield gap between ELS and medium staple cotton.
- Improved Seeds and Agronomic Practices: Better seeds, timely agronomic advice, and technology adoption are crucial for improving yields of all cotton varieties, including ELS.
- Market Development: Creating strong market linkages will ensure farmers get better prices for their ELS cotton produce.
- Herbicide-Resistant Cotton: Farmers are demanding access to herbicide-resistant (HtBT) cotton for better weed management. The government may need to consider this demand within a regulatory framework.