International Commodity Management, IIPMB

1. INDUSTRIAL CROPS
COTTON
JUTE
Rubber

2. COTTON
• Whole boll of cotton is picked when it bursts and exposes white soft
cotton
• The cotton fibre is separated from the seeds through process called
ginning. The seed cotton as brought from the field is first subject to
the process of ginning to separate the seed from the fibre.
• This processed cotton is packed into bales averaging about 500 lbs.
each (British started the textile industry and the cotton production
too).
• Many uses of fibre and its seed. Cotton provides more cloth for
human beings than all other fibres combined despite the growth of
synthetic fibres.

3. Conditions of Growth
• Requires Warm climate, a temp. around 21 degree C
through the growing period.
• 180 to 200 frost free days and its growth is hampered if the
temp falls below 16 degree C.
• Moderate amount of rainfall of about 62 to 112 cm for
favourable growth. In areas of scanty rainfall, cotton is
cultivated with irrigation. Dry sunny days are MUST when the
bolls open.

4. Soil conditions
• Cotton could be produced on any soil if climatic conditions are favourable.
But usually grown on Light Sandy Soil, heavy clay and bottom lands. Yield
varies depending on types of soils where cultivated.
• On light sandy soils, unless well fertilized yield is low.
• On loamy soils yield is better and on bottom lands yield is very good.
• The soil must also be capable of retaining moisture and it is this
characteristic which renders the sticky black cotton soil of India is suitable
for cotton.
• It is an exhausting crop and after a limited no. of years manuring or a
careful regulated crop rotation becomes essential.

5. Other conditions
• Sea breeze is essential for the quality of fibre. Hence low lands near the sea
or islands in the tropical and sub-tropical latitudes are ideal.
• Cotton is an exhausting crop and after a limited number of years,
manuring or a carefully regulated crop rotation becomes essential
• Highly susceptible to diseases. Application of insecticides and pesticides is
essential to maintain the health of the crop.
• Cheap human labour is required to pick cotton bolls at harvesting time.
Difficult to mechanise. Human picker carefully discriminates between fully
ripe and unripe. Possible dangers –dust and rain could easily spoil the crop.

6. Types of Cotton
• Quality depends on the STAPLE LENGTH of the fibre. Longer staple is
considered to be superior used in making fine and superfine cloth.
• 4 varieties –
1. Sea Island Cotton Staple length > 5 cm. Produced in small quantities
exclusively along the South-east coast of USA, in Puertorico, and
west indies. Highly susceptible to diseases. Used for manufacture of
superfine cloth. Annual production is less than 10,000 bales
2. Egyptian Cotton Staple length of 3 to 5 cms. Is used for manufacture
of superfine cloth Nile valley, Russian Turkistan, USA and Sudan

7. Varieties of Cotton
• 3. Upland American Cotton Staple length 2 to 4 Cms. Grows
extensively in USA, Mexico an Central America
• 4. Short staple Indian Cotton : Staple length is less than 2 cms. India
and Brazil produce are the principal producers. Rough, strong fibre
and is used in the manufacture of upholstery and hosiery and
undergarments. Good to mix with wool (cotswool)

8. Producing Areas
• USA, USSR, India, Brazil, China and Egypt.
• Other producers are: Mexico, Sudan, Peru, Uganda, Turkey, Pakistan,
Israel, Zaire, Syria, Iran, Argentina and Mozambique.

9. Important Producing Countries
• CHINA
Chief Producing Areas – Lower valley of Yangtse. Fertile Upper delta of
Hwang-Ho. Wei Valley around Sian. Loose soils of these valleys are
extremely suitable for Cotton cultivation Average yield per hectare is
346 Kg.
USSR – Grows in Soviet central Asia with the help of irrigation.
Important Areas are: Turkistan, Trans Caucasus, South Ukraine, Crimea
and South Kazakhstan Yield – 927 kg/hectare higher than USA

10. Further Developments
• Mechanisation of Harvesting
• Increased use of Fertilisers
• Improved irrigation facilities
• Price incentives practiced lately . Hence the prices raised.

11. United States of America
• Second largest producer (about 20@ of world production of more than 4
million tonnes)
• Produced from the cotton belt from North Carolina to Texas
• 4 principal areas: Area (1)SW of Mississippi river – Texas, Oklahoma and
Arkansas,(2) Georgia, Alabama, North and South Carolina, (3) Mississippi
Valley – Mississippi and Louisiana states and (4) Western States in San
Joaquin valley of California and Salt River valley of Arizona.
• Texas is the largest producer with 20% production. Southern states chiefly
produce Upland American Cotton while Long-staple Sea island Cotton is
produced in Arizona, Texas and New Mexico Av. Yield nearly 600 Kg.

12. INDIA
• Largest Acreage under Cotton in the world. But low yield of only 223
kg /hectare.
• Three important regions: 1.Black Cotton Soil belt of Central India
including Southern Gujarat, Plateau of Malwa, Khandesh, Berar,
Saurashtra, West MP and North Hyderabad.
• 2. Extreme South Karnataka plain and Middle valley of Narmada
• 3. North Western part of India – Punjab, Haryana, Western UP, and
Eat Rajasthan.
• Cotton grown is Short Staple variety (length less than 2.5 cms.)

13. Other producing areas
• PAKISTAN produces >90% from Multan, Montogomery, Lyllpur, Shahpur,
Lahore, Sheikpur and Jhang districts. 4th largest producer with Av. yield of
350 kg per hectare.
• BRAZIL: Coastal low lands near Sao Paulo. Av yield is 150 kg, Bahia and
Pernambuco handle the exports.
• EGYPT Nile Valley is main producing region where more than 1/3 area is
under Cotton. Average yield is 729 kg per hectare.
• AFRICA – Uganda, Sudan (Gazia plains with irrigation), and Congo (south
west coast where rain fall is less than 50 cm) are principal producing areas

14. Principal International Trade Members
• Exporters: USA, USAR, China, Pakistan, Egypt, Mexico, Sudan
Nicaragua, Iran, Brazil, Syria, Colombia and India
• Importers: Japan, China, Hong Kong, Germany, Korea Republic,
France, Poland, Italy, the U K, Czechoslovakia
• Possibilities of growing cotton in - North Nigeria, Nyasaland,
Tanzania and Kenya in Africa, Mexico, Korea, Manchuria and West
Indies.

15. Conclusions
• Business perspective
• Viability
• Developmental Suggestions