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India may

become net

cotton importer

BOMBAY: India may become a net importer of cotton in three to four years unless it achieves a breakthrough in cotton productivity, a top official of the textile ministry said.

"Domestic (cotton) demand is surging steadily," T.S.R. Subramanian, Secretary at India's Ministry of Textiles, said in a meeting organised by the state-run Cotton Textiles Export Promotion Council (Texprocil).

He said stagnant productivity and acreage may make India a net cotton importer in three to four years. "This will adversely hit cotton textile exports as well," he said.

Addressing a seminar on the "Implications of the phasing out of the multi-fibre arrangement," Subramanian said India had achieved major productivity breakthroughs in several agricultural crops. "But the same has not happened in cotton."

India's cotton productivity, 290 kg per hectare, contrasted with 550 kg in neighbouring Pakistan and 1,500 kg in Israel, Subramanian said.

He said Indian states such as Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh had made tremendous strides in raising the yields of oilseeds and potato crops.

"Similar efforts are called for in cotton," he said.

Sudhir Thackersey, Chairman of the State-run Texprocil, said textiles accounted for almost 35 percent of India's total exports. Cotton-based products dominate textile exports.-Reuter