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India's cotton cultivation area is projected to decrease by nearly 20% between 2019-20 and 2025-26.
The acreage is expected to fall from 13.4 million hectares to 11.2 million hectares.
This decline is primarily attributed to volatile cotton productivity, impacted by erratic weather patterns and pest infestations.
Farmers are increasingly shifting from cotton cultivation to growing crops like rice and maize due to these challenges.
Directly linked to the reasons for acreage decline, highlighting challenges in yield per hectare.
Erratic weather patterns (droughts, excessive rains) are a major factor affecting cotton cultivation.
Cotton is a primary raw material; reduced domestic supply could impact manufacturing and exports.
Farmers shifting to rice and maize reflects a strategic move to manage risks and secure income.
The need for policies supporting cotton farmers, pest control, and climate resilience becomes crucial.
Crop acreage refers to the total land area cultivated for a specific crop. Crop productivity, on the other hand, measures the yield or output of a crop per unit of cultivated area (e.g., quintals per hectare). A decline in acreage means less land is being used for that crop, while volatile productivity implies inconsistent yields from the cultivated land, often due to external factors like weather or pests. Both factors significantly influence the overall production and economic viability of a crop.
Simple Analogy: Imagine a factory. Acreage is like the number of production lines, and productivity is how many items each line produces per hour. If you reduce the number of lines (acreage) and each line produces inconsistently (volatile productivity), your total output will suffer.
GS Paper III - Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development and employment. Major crops - cropping patterns in various parts of the country, different types of irrigation and irrigation systems storage, transport and marketing of agricultural produce and issues and related constraints; e-technology in the aid of farmers.
General Awareness - Indian Economy, Agriculture, Geography of India.
General Awareness - Indian Economy, Agriculture sector trends, Government schemes related to agriculture.
General Awareness - Indian Economy, Agriculture, Geography.
Medium to High, especially for UPSC and state PSC exams focusing on agriculture and economy.
The total land area dedicated to cotton cultivation.
The yield of a crop per unit of cultivated land.
Unpredictable and inconsistent weather patterns, often linked to climate change, impacting agriculture.