Citation
(2011), "Cotton shortage", International Journal of Productivity and Performance Management, Vol. 60 No. 8. https://doi.org/10.1108/ijppm.2011.07960haa.004
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2011, Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Cotton shortage
Article Type: News From: International Journal of Productivity and Performance Management, Volume 60, Issue 8
India, the world’s second biggest exporter of cotton, could turn into an importer within three or four years as production peaks out because of falling yields, forcing the country’s textile mills to compete for supplies with top importer China.
Despite rising acreage, India’s cotton yields are down to about 475 kg per hectare, or 38 percent below the global average, as plants need to be spaced widely for hand picking, in contrast to other leading growers, such as the United States and Australia, which use machines.
Acreage is limited not just by land constraints and fluctuations in weather and prices, but also government efforts to push farmers to grow more food over cash crops such as cotton, to try and limit galloping food inflation.