March 23rd, 2007 | admin

Cotton (Gossypium arboretum and G. herbaceum) is cultivated throughout central and north India. Cotton plants give the cotton to produce cotton fabrics. There are two species of cotton grown in India.

Cotton fiber is seen as surrounding cotton seeds. Dried fiber is spun into a fine thread, from which the natural textile products are made. The fiber is purely made of cellulose.

Cotton has a prominent place in IndiaÂ’s struggle for freedom and independence. As a measure of boycotting fabrics imported to the country, Gandhiji, the father of the Nation declared to spin cotton threads with a lowly spinning machine called charka. This quickly transferred to the people of rural India and became a mass movement of self sufficiency and boycott of foreign goods. Such charka are still available in rural India.

Cotton plants prefer lot of sunlight and water. The preferred climate for harvesting is dry weather.

Unrefined cottonseed oil is used as a pesticide. Refined cotton seed oil is used as a vegetable oil, but in moderate use. Cottonseed cake is used as a fodder.

India accounts for about 30 % of global cotton production. Cotton is also a key driver of economy in rural India after agriculture.

Cotton belongs to the family malvaceae.