Production Economics of Surgical Cotton in Mixed Cropping Systems of India

Aim: Estimate the economics of surgical cotton production in the natural home of G. arboreum cottons and advice the surgical cotton enterpreneurs.
Methodology: Field experiments, on farm trials, gin/surgical cotton unit surveys were conducted and economics was calculated from the relevant data.
Results: National bio-diversity authority of India (NBDAI) rules for large scale commercial exploitation doesn’t permit for surgical cotton production from the native cottons. G. arboreum indicum var. LD 230 and RG-8 could be grown commercially in the north eastern India under slash and burn system. Yaganti in Mungari cotton tract and MDL ABB-1 (selection from G. arboreum cernum local var. karbi under NATP RCPS-9) in Gaorani cotton tract of Andhra Pradesh state, G-27, RG-8, LD-491, Lohit, LD-230, Karbi cotton (local G. arboreum cernum) and Phule Dhanwantari in Jalgaon-Khandesh and Amraoti, Yeomal of Vidarbha region of Maharashtra states are few ready to use surgical cotton varieties for commercial production. Limitations of G. arboreum cernum is shy boll bearing, photo sensitive nature, fewer bolls, lower yield and servere grey mildew disease incidence in September month. Limitation of G. arboreum indicum cultivars were small boll size, boll worm damage, shattering of matured cotton, frequent pickings, lower GOT and grey mildew disease incidence results in less returns in market. Surgical cotton processing centres were located in west, central and south India which can encourage commercial production under contract farming can give a profitable returns of US $ 1000 ha-1. Premium to the extent of 30% is needed due to absence of Bt trait (19%) and higher ginning out turn (11%) outside north eastern India and north coastal Andhra Pradesh in order to compete with Bt hybrid cotton.
Conclusion: Meghalaya, Assam, Mizoram, Tripura and north coastal Andhra Pradesh, India which were the natural home of G. arboreum cernum and G. arboreum indicum cottons respectively having competitive price and yield advantage in by default organic conditions, besides premium quality and economical for surgical cotton production.