INDIA'S COTTON ROOTS NEED NOURISHMENT

India is the third-largest cotton producer in the world. Cotton itself is the second-largest raw material to the textile industry in the country, which is also its second-largest job providing sector. Demand for this extensively cultivated crop is only expected to rise spectacularly in the coming years. It thus becomes crucial for the government to improve the artisanal and craftsman skill set through ITI (industrial training institutes) programmes, making the small cotton producers self-sufficient in setting up a small enterprise.

-  Khushboo Sethi, Co-founder, Jisora

India has a rich trading history dating back 5,000 years when people traded home-grown crops, fabrics and spices through the silk route. The country’s geological strata and alluvial soil are suitable for cultivating cash crops that contribute to the economy’s growth. Cotton is the second-largest raw material to the textile industry in the country. It is grown in the northern region of Punjab; Central states of Gujarat, Rajasthan and Maharashtra; and southern belt of Karnataka, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. The crop has extensively been cultivated to provide yarn and fibre for fabrics. Cotton absorbs sweat and is a body-friendly product; it is in massive demand in the textile industry. Its market keeps increasing year-by-year both domestically and internationally. India has several prominent names that source cotton for different apparel.

Mode of Manufacturing

The textile industry is layered into two segments: the hand-spun, woven industry and the capitalised-mills sector. Traditional manufacturing consists of man-made fibres that have existed for a long time. They are fine in quality and give jobs to millions of skilled and unskilled labourers. Although the traditional manufacturer model contributes massively to cotton production, they are reluctant to adapt to new technology because of little awareness. Therefore, there is no substantial growth in the small and medium enterprises.