A two-day conference on “Indian Cotton Scenario in the Current Context 2016-2017” is organized by the Indian Cotton Federation (ICF) jointly with the Indian Cotton Association (ICAL). Speaking on Friday at the conference inaugural, Rakesh Rathi, president of ICAL, said that India needs better real time data on cotton. All cotton bales pressed in the country should have a digital mark and should be registered.

India has the largest area under cotton but its yield is lower. Regional cotton associations should focus on extension services to educate farmers and should also take up programmes that will help collect real time data, he said.

According to M. Senthil Kumar, chairman of Southern India Mills’ Association, India is losing on cotton acreage, productivity, and quality in the last two seasons. Textile mills in the south are apprehensive that the country might become a net importer of cotton and the mills might not get cotton at the right time even at high price. They need united efforts to make the Government work on the white gold.

Dhiren N. Sheth, president of Cotton Association of India, said that the cotton sector needs a system such as direct transfer of benefits for farmers. In the case of GM technology, the country is in cross roads. All segments of the cotton sector should sit with the Government and the seed industry to thrash out issues.

The industry also needs to address problems related to irrigation, storage in peak season, infrastructure at ports, etc. President of South Indian Spinners Association K. Thirunavukkarasu said cotton farmers, ginners and spinners are not happy though the country had a good crop for the last two years. Efforts are needed to save the cotton sector.

B.K. Krishnaraj Vanavarayar, chairman of Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, pointed out that economic growth should be inclusive. The aim of the country should be holistic human development. Be it those in the industry, trade, or agriculture, the focus should be making the country strong.

Stakeholders of the cotton sector called for efforts that will give a boost to cotton production and will benefit the farmers and the industry.