Government sets target of 1,000 kilograms per hectare cotton yield across 11 states
The model is being used in Akola to increase cotton yields and is expected to be replicated across the country
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The government has set a cotton yield target of 1,000 kilograms per hectare across 11 top cotton producing states as it aims to replicate the best practices followed in Akola, Maharashtra. The Akola model of cotton production, also known as the High-Density Planting (HDPS) model, is a technique that involves planting more cotton plants in a smaller space. The model is being used in Akola to increase cotton yields and is expected to be replicated across the country.
India's current yield of around 450 kg per hectare is much lower than competitors like China, Australia and Brazil, among others. Gujarat, Maharashtra, Telangana, Rajasthan, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab and Odisha are among the top cotton producing states in India.
Earlier, the government is deliberating complex policy decisions regarding Herbicide-tolerant BT (HTBT) cotton and the use of herbicide 'glyphosate' as industry demands intensify. The key issue revolves around permitting widespread glyphosate application in cotton farming, even as discussions are underway about officially introducing HTBT cotton varieties in the country.