The state has a cotton productivity of 589kg per hectare, govt said. ALSO WATCHED VIRAL VIDEOS Enjoy benefits worth ?4,50,000 Apply now State agriculture minister Raghavji Patel said that when Gujarat was established in 1960, its cotton productivity was 139kg per hectare, which has now increased to 589kg per hectare.

This shows that research, farmer-oriented policies of govt, and the relentless efforts of cotton farmers have generated huge revenues for the state," the minister said. The minister added that after the development of the hybrid-4 cotton variety by a Surat research farm in 1971, the era of hybrid cotton began in the entire country, leading to a significant increase in India's cotton productivity. An official statement said that in 2021-22, Gujarat became the second-ranked state in the country with a cotton cultivation area of 22.45 lakh hectares, a production of 73.88 lakh bales, and a productivity of 559kg per hectare. The minister added that in the coming years, Gujarat is expected to secure the top position because of various incentive schemes and research in the cotton crop.

Patel said that Gujarat has also led in the era of BT cotton, and the state led in the development and recognition of the first two public sector BT hybrid varieties Gujarat Cotton Hybrid-6 BG-2 and Gujarat Cotton Hybrid-8 BG-2 which were recognised by the Union govt in 2012. Subsequently, in 2015, Gujarat developed two more BT hybrid varieties Gujarat Cotton Hybrid-10 BG-2 and Gujarat Cotton Hybrid-12 BG-2, making four BT cotton varieties available for farmers to cultivate.

Gandhinagar: To mark the World Cotton Day, which will be observed on Oct 7, the state govt said on Sunday that Gujarat ranks second in the country, with cotton being cultivated over an area of 26.8 lakh hectares and a production of 92 lakh bales. The state has a cotton productivity of 589kg per hectare, govt said. State agriculture minister Raghavji Patel said that when Gujarat was established in 1960, its cotton productivity was 139kg per hectare, which has now increased to 589kg per hectare. "This shows that research, farmer-oriented policies of govt, and the relentless efforts of cotton farmers have generated huge revenues for the state," the minister said. The minister added that after the development of the hybrid-4 cotton variety by a Surat research farm in 1971, the era of hybrid cotton began in the entire country, leading to a significant increase in India's cotton productivity. An official statement said that in 2021-22, Gujarat became the second-ranked state in the country with a cotton cultivation area of 22.45 lakh hectares, a production of 73.88 lakh bales, and a productivity of 559kg per hectare. The minister added that in the coming years, Gujarat is expected to secure the top position because of various incentive schemes and research in the cotton crop.Patel said that Gujarat has also led in the era of BT cotton, and the state led in the development and recognition of the first two public sector BT hybrid varieties Gujarat Cotton Hybrid-6 BG-2 and Gujarat Cotton Hybrid-8 BG-2- which were recognised by the Union govt in 2012. Subsequently, in 2015, Gujarat developed two more BT hybrid varieties Gujarat Cotton Hybrid-10 BG-2 and Gujarat Cotton Hybrid-12 BG-2, making four BT cotton varieties available for farmers to cultivate.

Source: Times of India