Environmental Impact of Cotton Cultivation and Use in India

Content Background and Need History of Cotton Production in India  Characteristics of Cotton Produced  Trade Scenario  Factors Affecting Cotton Production Cotton Value Chain and Environmental Regulatory Framework in India Environmental Impacts of Cotton Production in India Way Forward

Background and Need Cotton production contributes significantly to India’s economy  Cotton & Textiles account for 45% of all exports from India to the EU (WWF, 2007)  Approximately 60 million people rely on cotton production and related industries for livelihoods Environmental sustainability issues are there in the entire cotton value chain Source: WWF,2007.

History of Cotton Production in India A principal cash crop grown in India Has the largest area, approximately 90 million hectares under cotton cultivation Until 2001, non-transgenic cotton seeds sown for cultivation Since 2002, farmers began sowing transgenic cotton seeds as well Has emerged as the number one cotton exporter and the number two cotton producer with the aid of technology

Characteristics of Cotton Produced in India

Cotton growing Zones in India

Adoption of Technology aided Cotton in India

Cotton Hectarage, Production, and Yield in India

Import and Export of Cotton in India

Factors Affecting Cotton Yield in India Delayed Sowing Monsoon Dependence Poor Seed Quality Plant Protection Crop Management Source: SINET.”Indian Cotton Textile Sector Network Report”.

Cotton Value Chain Farmers & Harvesters Ginners Spinners Weavers & Knitters Manufacturers Retailers

Environmental Regulatory Framework in India (1) Plant Protection against Pest and Diseases  use of pesticides acceptable to prevent cotton plants from boll worm and other diseases Water (Prevention & Control) ACT,1974  fresh water must not get contaminated with pesticides and chemical fertilizers Source:

Environmental Regulatory Framework in India (2) Wildlife Protection ACT, 1972  protection of “wildlife” that includes any animal, bees, butterflies, crustaceans, fish and moths and aquatic or land vegetation which forms part of any habitat  thus, beneficial insects must remain unharmed with the use of pesticides Source:

Environmental Regulatory Framework in India (3) Ozone Depleting Substances (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000  control and regulation imposed on manufacturing, import, export, and use of ozone depleting substances  hence, dyeing and printing chemicals must be free of ozone depleting substances Source:

Major Environmental Issues (1) Pest Management Issues  50% of all pesticides used in India go for cotton cultivation  Part of them drain into freshwater systems  Many species of beneficial insects, which help keep the insect/pest population in place, are killed by the heavy utilisation of pesticides  Pesticides poisoning  FAO reports 383 cases of pesticide poisoning in Andhra Pradesh in 2001 Source: WWF,2007.

Major Environmental Issues (2) Water Pollution & Management Issues  Pesticides contaminate fresh water availability  Unpredictable rainfall patterns have adversely affected rain-fed cotton cultivation in India  Cotton farmers in India have relied on deep water drilling, resulting into water scarcity  “In 2001, 22 of 23 districts in Andhra Pradesh were declared under drought, affecting nearly two million hectares of cotton farmland and putting tremendous stress on farmers” (WWF,2007) Source: WWF,2007.

Major Environmental Issues (3) Soil Pollution  Excessive use of pesticides and chemical fertilizers resulting in low/fluctuating yield  Increased salinisation due to deep water drilling resulting in low/fluctuating yield

Way Forward India’s average yield of 567kg/ha is far below than the United States average of 902 kg/ha Hence, upgrading cotton farming practices is essential to increase average yield per hectare  Increase irrigation facility  Use modern technology

Continued… Better on-farm management  Ensure better seed quality  Avoid freshwater contamination from the use of pesticides and chemical fertilizers  Limit soil contamination from the use of pesticides  Adopt better waste management practices

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