Cotton Productivity: UPSC Mains Notes
In News
- A recent analysis argues that soil health, rather than new GM seeds, should drive India’s cotton productivity.
Cotton Productivity
- India’s cotton productivity increased significantly between 2002 and 2013 following widespread adoption of Bt cotton.
- National productivity later declined from 567 kg per hectare during 2013 to 449 kg by 2018.
- India’s cotton productivity reached 521 kg per hectare during 2006 after widespread Bt cotton adoption.
- The yield improvement to multiple agronomic factors rather than seed technology alone.
- Turkey achieved 566 kg per hectare without approved GM cotton, highlighting the importance of farming practices.
- China’s productivity reached 2,311 kg per hectare despite using the same Bt technology available in India.
Issues in Cotton Productivity
- Soil Degradation: Declining soil organic carbon reduces long-term productivity and weakens cotton farm resilience.
- Technology Dependence: Excessive focus on GM seeds diverts attention from agronomic and soil management practices.
- Nutrient Imbalance: Continuous fertiliser application without balanced soil restoration limits sustainable yield improvements.
- Regional Variations: Several cotton-growing regions have soils depleted beyond their productive potential.
- Diminishing Returns: Seed technology alone cannot sustain productivity after reaching biological yield limits.
Significance of Soil Health
- Organic Carbon: Healthy soil organic carbon improves fertility and supports sustainable cotton productivity.
- Water Retention: Better soil health enhances moisture availability for cotton cultivation under changing climatic conditions.
- Yield Stability: Improved soil quality enables consistent productivity through balanced agronomic management.
- Climate Resilience: Healthy soils strengthen the ability of cotton farms to withstand climatic variability.
- Sustainable Farming: Soil restoration creates long-term productivity gains beyond technological interventions alone.
Government Initiatives
- Climate-Resilient Varieties: The article recommends prioritising climate-resilient cotton varieties for sustainable productivity improvements.
- Organic Carbon Restoration: Regenerative agriculture should restore soil organic carbon across cotton-growing regions.
- Mechanisation: Smallholder mechanisation can improve farm efficiency and reduce cultivation costs.
- Pink Bollworm Management: Sustainable pest management should replace excessive dependence on single technological solutions.
Way Forward
- Regenerative Agriculture: Farming practices should prioritise restoration of soil organic carbon for sustained productivity growth.
- Balanced Approach: Cotton policy should integrate seed technology with agronomic, breeding and soil management interventions.
- Climate Adaptation: Greater emphasis should be placed on climate-resilient cotton varieties across vulnerable regions.
- Integrated Farming: Mechanisation, sustainable pest management and efficient water use should complement technological innovations.
- Scientific Management: Long-term productivity should be driven by healthy soils supported through continuous scientific interventions.
Source: Indian Express
