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News18
an hour ago
- Business
- News18
Naturally coloured cotton revival hit by funding crunch, low yields
Agency: PTI New Delhi, Jul 20 (PTI) India's naturally coloured cotton, which thrived commercially in the 1940s, is struggling to stage a comeback despite rising global demand for sustainable textiles and decades of government's efforts in research. The specialty crop is currently grown on just 200 acres across Karnataka, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh, fetching Rs 240 per kg, 50 per cent more than regular cotton at Rs 160 per kg. However, farmers are hesitant to expand cultivation due to significantly lower yields. 'The productivity of light brown cotton is very low at 1.5-2 quintals per acre, compared to 6-7 quintals per acre for normal cotton. This discourages farmers from expanding the area under this crop," Ashok Kumar, Principal Scientist at ICAR-Central Institute for Research on Cotton Technology (CIRCOT), told PTI. Annual production from these limited acres stands at merely 330 quintals, underscoring the challenge facing this specialty crop that could potentially transform India's textile sustainability profile. ICAR-CIRCOT is currently focusing on light brown coloured cotton. Coloured cotton has ancient roots in Indian agriculture, with cultivation dating back to 2500 BC. Before independence, red, khaki and brown varieties of Cocanada 1 and 2 were grown commercially in Rayalseema, Andhra Pradesh, with exports to Japan. Traditional varieties were also cultivated in Assam and Karnataka's Kumta region. However, the Green Revolution's emphasis on high-yielding white cotton varieties pushed coloured cotton to the sidelines. The crop's inherent limitations – fewer bolls, lower weight, poor fibre strength, short staple length and colour variations – made it economically unviable for large-scale cultivation. Indian agricultural institutions have developed improved varieties, including DDCC-1, DDB-12, DMB-225, and DGC-78 by the University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad. The Central Institute for Cotton Research, Nagpur, created Vaidehi-95, considered the most prominent among 4-5 available varieties. Between 2015-19, ICAR-CIRCOT processed 17 quintals in demonstration batches, producing 9,000 metres of fabric, over 2,000 jackets and 3,000 handkerchiefs, proving commercial viability. The environmental benefits are significant. Traditional cotton dyeing requires approximately 150 litres of water per metre of fabric, while naturally coloured cotton eliminates this requirement, potentially reducing toxic waste disposal costs by up to 50 per cent. 'Naturally coloured cotton has huge export potential. More government support is required to enhance production and value addition," Kumar said. Despite premium pricing and environmental advantages, expansion faces hurdles including lack of seed systems, pest vulnerability, and high pesticide requirements typical of cotton cultivation. 'Nobody develops varieties as production is low and the market is not visible. Even textile mills are not ready to procure small quantities," Kumar explained. The global market shows promise with growing demand from environmentally conscious brands, particularly in Europe, USA and Japan. Australia and China are investing heavily in research using traditional breeding and genetic engineering. For commercial viability, coordinated efforts are needed across the value chain '� from developing farmer-friendly varieties to creating processing infrastructure and establishing market linkages with textile manufacturers committed to sustainable practices. PTI LUX ANU ANU view comments First Published: July 20, 2025, 14:00 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.


Economic Times
an hour ago
- Business
- Economic Times
Naturally coloured cotton revival hit by funding crunch, low yields
India's naturally coloured cotton, which thrived commercially in the 1940s, is struggling to stage a comeback despite rising global demand for sustainable textiles and decades of government's efforts in research. The specialty crop is currently grown on just 200 acres across Karnataka, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh, fetching Rs 240 per kg, 50 per cent more than regular cotton at Rs 160 per kg. However, farmers are hesitant to expand cultivation due to significantly lower yields. "The productivity of light brown cotton is very low at 1.5-2 quintals per acre, compared to 6-7 quintals per acre for normal cotton. This discourages farmers from expanding the area under this crop," Ashok Kumar, Principal Scientist at ICAR-Central Institute for Research on Cotton Technology (CIRCOT), told PTI. Annual production from these limited acres stands at merely 330 quintals, underscoring the challenge facing this specialty crop that could potentially transform India's textile sustainability profile. ICAR-CIRCOT is currently focusing on light brown coloured cotton. Coloured cotton has ancient roots in Indian agriculture, with cultivation dating back to 2500 BC. Before independence, red, khaki and brown varieties of Cocanada 1 and 2 were grown commercially in Rayalseema, Andhra Pradesh, with exports to Japan. Traditional varieties were also cultivated in Assam and Karnataka's Kumta region. However, the Green Revolution's emphasis on high-yielding white cotton varieties pushed coloured cotton to the sidelines. The crop's inherent limitations - fewer bolls, lower weight, poor fibre strength, short staple length and colour variations - made it economically unviable for large-scale cultivation. Indian agricultural institutions have developed improved varieties, including DDCC-1, DDB-12, DMB-225, and DGC-78 by the University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad. The Central Institute for Cotton Research, Nagpur, created Vaidehi-95, considered the most prominent among 4-5 available varieties. Between 2015-19, ICAR-CIRCOT processed 17 quintals in demonstration batches, producing 9,000 metres of fabric, over 2,000 jackets and 3,000 handkerchiefs, proving commercial viability. The environmental benefits are significant. Traditional cotton dyeing requires approximately 150 litres of water per metre of fabric, while naturally coloured cotton eliminates this requirement, potentially reducing toxic waste disposal costs by up to 50 per cent. "Naturally coloured cotton has huge export potential. More government support is required to enhance production and value addition," Kumar said. Despite premium pricing and environmental advantages, expansion faces hurdles including lack of seed systems, pest vulnerability, and high pesticide requirements typical of cotton cultivation. "Nobody develops varieties as production is low and the market is not visible. Even textile mills are not ready to procure small quantities," Kumar explained. The global market shows promise with growing demand from environmentally conscious brands, particularly in Europe, USA and Japan. Australia and China are investing heavily in research using traditional breeding and genetic engineering. For commercial viability, coordinated efforts are needed across the value chain ' from developing farmer-friendly varieties to creating processing infrastructure and establishing market linkages with textile manufacturers committed to sustainable practices.


Mint
2 hours ago
- Business
- Mint
Naturally coloured cotton revival hit by funding crunch, low yields
New Delhi, Jul 20 (PTI) India's naturally coloured cotton, which thrived commercially in the 1940s, is struggling to stage a comeback despite rising global demand for sustainable textiles and decades of government's efforts in research. The specialty crop is currently grown on just 200 acres across Karnataka, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh, fetching ₹ 240 per kg, 50 per cent more than regular cotton at ₹ 160 per kg. However, farmers are hesitant to expand cultivation due to significantly lower yields. "The productivity of light brown cotton is very low at 1.5-2 quintals per acre, compared to 6-7 quintals per acre for normal cotton. This discourages farmers from expanding the area under this crop," Ashok Kumar, Principal Scientist at ICAR-Central Institute for Research on Cotton Technology (CIRCOT), told PTI. Annual production from these limited acres stands at merely 330 quintals, underscoring the challenge facing this specialty crop that could potentially transform India's textile sustainability profile. ICAR-CIRCOT is currently focusing on light brown coloured cotton. Coloured cotton has ancient roots in Indian agriculture, with cultivation dating back to 2500 BC. Before independence, red, khaki and brown varieties of Cocanada 1 and 2 were grown commercially in Rayalseema, Andhra Pradesh, with exports to Japan. Traditional varieties were also cultivated in Assam and Karnataka's Kumta region. However, the Green Revolution's emphasis on high-yielding white cotton varieties pushed coloured cotton to the sidelines. The crop's inherent limitations - fewer bolls, lower weight, poor fibre strength, short staple length and colour variations - made it economically unviable for large-scale cultivation. Indian agricultural institutions have developed improved varieties, including DDCC-1, DDB-12, DMB-225, and DGC-78 by the University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad. The Central Institute for Cotton Research, Nagpur, created Vaidehi-95, considered the most prominent among 4-5 available varieties. Between 2015-19, ICAR-CIRCOT processed 17 quintals in demonstration batches, producing 9,000 metres of fabric, over 2,000 jackets and 3,000 handkerchiefs, proving commercial viability. The environmental benefits are significant. Traditional cotton dyeing requires approximately 150 litres of water per metre of fabric, while naturally coloured cotton eliminates this requirement, potentially reducing toxic waste disposal costs by up to 50 per cent. "Naturally coloured cotton has huge export potential. More government support is required to enhance production and value addition," Kumar said. Despite premium pricing and environmental advantages, expansion faces hurdles including lack of seed systems, pest vulnerability, and high pesticide requirements typical of cotton cultivation. "Nobody develops varieties as production is low and the market is not visible. Even textile mills are not ready to procure small quantities," Kumar explained. The global market shows promise with growing demand from environmentally conscious brands, particularly in Europe, USA and Japan. Australia and China are investing heavily in research using traditional breeding and genetic engineering. For commercial viability, coordinated efforts are needed across the value chain ' from developing farmer-friendly varieties to creating processing infrastructure and establishing market linkages with textile manufacturers committed to sustainable practices.


Time of India
2 hours ago
- Business
- Time of India
Naturally coloured cotton revival hit by funding crunch, low yields
India's naturally coloured cotton , which thrived commercially in the 1940s, is struggling to stage a comeback despite rising global demand for sustainable textiles and decades of government's efforts in research. The specialty crop is currently grown on just 200 acres across Karnataka, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh, fetching Rs 240 per kg, 50 per cent more than regular cotton at Rs 160 per kg. However, farmers are hesitant to expand cultivation due to significantly lower yields. Explore courses from Top Institutes in Select a Course Category others MBA Public Policy Others CXO Degree MCA Leadership Healthcare PGDM Product Management healthcare Artificial Intelligence Technology Design Thinking Data Science Data Analytics Cybersecurity Data Science Project Management Finance Operations Management Management Digital Marketing Skills you'll gain: Duration: 16 Weeks Indian School of Business CERT - ISB Cybersecurity for Leaders Program India Starts on undefined Get Details "The productivity of light brown cotton is very low at 1.5-2 quintals per acre, compared to 6-7 quintals per acre for normal cotton. This discourages farmers from expanding the area under this crop," Ashok Kumar, Principal Scientist at ICAR-Central Institute for Research on Cotton Technology (CIRCOT), told PTI. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Villas Prices In Dubai Might Be More Affordable Than You Think Villas In Dubai | Search Ads Get Quote Undo Annual production from these limited acres stands at merely 330 quintals, underscoring the challenge facing this specialty crop that could potentially transform India's textile sustainability profile. ICAR-CIRCOT is currently focusing on light brown coloured cotton. Live Events Coloured cotton has ancient roots in Indian agriculture , with cultivation dating back to 2500 BC. Before independence, red, khaki and brown varieties of Cocanada 1 and 2 were grown commercially in Rayalseema, Andhra Pradesh, with exports to Japan. Traditional varieties were also cultivated in Assam and Karnataka's Kumta region. However, the Green Revolution's emphasis on high-yielding white cotton varieties pushed coloured cotton to the sidelines. The crop's inherent limitations - fewer bolls, lower weight, poor fibre strength, short staple length and colour variations - made it economically unviable for large-scale cultivation. Indian agricultural institutions have developed improved varieties, including DDCC-1, DDB-12, DMB-225, and DGC-78 by the University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad. The Central Institute for Cotton Research, Nagpur, created Vaidehi-95, considered the most prominent among 4-5 available varieties. Between 2015-19, ICAR-CIRCOT processed 17 quintals in demonstration batches, producing 9,000 metres of fabric, over 2,000 jackets and 3,000 handkerchiefs, proving commercial viability. The environmental benefits are significant. Traditional cotton dyeing requires approximately 150 litres of water per metre of fabric, while naturally coloured cotton eliminates this requirement, potentially reducing toxic waste disposal costs by up to 50 per cent. "Naturally coloured cotton has huge export potential. More government support is required to enhance production and value addition," Kumar said. Despite premium pricing and environmental advantages, expansion faces hurdles including lack of seed systems, pest vulnerability, and high pesticide requirements typical of cotton cultivation . "Nobody develops varieties as production is low and the market is not visible. Even textile mills are not ready to procure small quantities," Kumar explained. The global market shows promise with growing demand from environmentally conscious brands , particularly in Europe, USA and Japan. Australia and China are investing heavily in research using traditional breeding and genetic engineering. For commercial viability, coordinated efforts are needed across the value chain ' from developing farmer-friendly varieties to creating processing infrastructure and establishing market linkages with textile manufacturers committed to sustainable practices.

The Hindu
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Karnataka government's pro-poor schemes in sync with the vision of Ambedkar, Jagjivan Ram, says Minister
Minister for Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs K.H. Muniyappa said here on Friday that the five guarantee schemes of the Karnataka government were in sync with the vision of B.R. Ambedkar and Babu Jagjivan Ram, and that the government was serving the cause of social justice. He was speaking at a seminar on 'Contributions of Babu Jagjivan Ram' conducted by the Karnataka State Open University (KSOU). Resource persons and speakers paid tribute to Jagjivan Ram's commitment to social justice and empowerment of the socially oppressed classes. Mr. Muniyappa said that Jagjivan Ram gave a voice to the oppressed section of the society, and like Ambedkar, used caste as a tool for social justice. This, he said, has to be contrasted with the present times where some forces use caste as a political weapon. He referred to the SC/ST Sub-Plan Act, 2013, introduced by the Congress government in the State, and pointed out that it mandates that a portion of the State's allocable budget be earmarked for Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs) in proportion to their population. This, the Minister said, helps in the upliftment of the Dalits as envisaged by Ambedkar and Jagjivan Ram. Paying tributes to Jagjivan Ram and his contribution in various capacities, Mr. Muniyappa said that the former stood for social equality and equal rights for the oppressed classes. The contribution of Jagjivan Ram as the Minister for Food and Agriculture, and the policies initiated by him which culminated in the Green Revolution, was also highlighted by him. On the prevailing situation with respect to the oppressed communities, the Minister said that although Dalit students receive reservation in schools and colleges, they continue to face social exploitation or discrimination. In universities and academic institutions, Dalit scholars struggle to receive equal recognition, while caste-based violence, atrocities, and land rights violations against Dalits still persist in some regions, he added. The Minister described Babu Jagjivan Ram as the model for a society which prioritised the development of all communities, especially the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes and it was in the fitness of things that the Government of Karnataka has established Babu Jagjivan Ram study centres in nine universities across the State, including the KSOU in Mysuru. Through these centres, seminars, conferences, and other programmes are being organised to create social, educational, and economic awareness among the marginalised communities. Minister for Social Welfare H.C. Mahadevappa inaugurated the seminar, and KSOU Vice-Chancellor Sharanappa V. Halse, Registrar Naveen Kumar, Director of Babu Jagjivan Ram Research Centre Sharanamma, and others, were present.