Cotton Textile Industry

In India, after the agricultural industry we have our textile industry which has generated income as well as employment in the nation. This is the only industry which has hired a huge number of both skilled and unskilled labourers. In data it shows that this industry offers approximately 35 million employment in the country. 

India is second in the position of global textile manufacturing and also shares the second position in silk and cotton production. In this context, we will study about the cotton textile industry in India. We will check the geographical distribution of the cotton textile industry in India, know about the textile city of India, we will present the list of cotton textile industry in India and among which we will study about the largest cotton textile industry in India. 

History of Cotton Textile Industry in India

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History has witnessed the fact that Cotton was the most important commodity which was being traded from the time of Ancient India till to this modern era of Modern India. The origin of the cotton textile industry dates back to the year of 1818 AD. The first cotton textile mill started its function at Fort Gloster near the state of Calcutta but the first modern cotton textile mill ‘Bombay Spinning 7 Weaving Company’ was established in the city of Bombay in the year 1854 by a local Parsi entrepreneur.

Distribution of Cotton Textile Industry in India 

The Cotton Textile centres in India are spread in four regions - Western Region, Southern Region, Northern Region and in the Eastern Region of India. In the states like Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and West Bengal have a very high concentration of this industry and especially in the three cities of Bombay, Ahmedabad and Coimbatore the industries are centred.

Distribution and Production of Cotton Textile 

• Maharashtra

Maharashtra is the leading producer of cotton textiles in India. The cotton Textile industry in Maharashtra is called as ‘Cotton polis of India’. The textile industry of India has also spread its functioning in these cities - Sholapur, Pune, Kolhapur, Jalgaon, Akola, Sangli, Satara, Nagpur, Wardha, Aurangabad and Amravati.

• Gujarat

Gujrat is popularly known as the second-largest producer of cotton textiles after the state of Maharashtra. Ahmedabad is known as ‘Manchester of India & Boston of East’ and this place is the second-largest centre of the cotton textile industry after Maharashtra. Other important centres include - Surat, Vadodara, Bhavnagar, Bharuch, Nadiad, Porbandar, Rajkot, Navsari, Viramgam and Mauri.

• Tamil Nadu

From the state of Tamil Nadu, we have Tirunelveli, Tuticorin, Salem, Madurai, Virudhnagar and Polachi are the established cotton textile centres in this state. Coimbatore is known as the ‘Manchester of South India’ as this is the most important cotton textile centre.

• Uttar Pradesh

The cotton textile industry in Uttar Pradesh is moreover focused in these places – Kanpur, Etawah, Moradabad, Modinagar, Bareilly, Hathras, Agra, Meerut and in cities like Varanasi are the major cotton textile producing centres in this state. Kanpur is known as the ‘Manchester of Uttar Pradesh’.

• Karnataka

Popular producing centres in Karnataka are - Bangalore, Chitradurga, Belgaum, Galbarga, Mangalore and Mysore which are the major cotton textile producing centres of Karnataka.  

• Madhya Pradesh

Indore, Gwalior, Mandasaur, Ujjain, Nagda, Dewas, Bhopal, Jabalpur and in the state of Ratlam are the major cotton textile producing centres of MP or Madhya Pradesh. 

• Rajasthan

From the state of Rajasthan, there are - Kota, Jaipur, Sriganganagar, Bhawani Mandi, Bhilwara, Udaipur and Kishangunj the accounts to be the major cotton textile producing centres of this state.

• West Bengal

In West Bengal, the major cotton textile producing centres are located in Kolkata, Howrah, Shyamanagar, Saikia, Serampore, Murshidabad, Hugli and in Panihar.

Cotton Polis of India – Maharashtra

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Maharashtra competes and excels over all other cotton-producing states, all hail to the development of the cotton textile industry in this state. Mumbai, consists of about 60 mills, and this accounts for the largest cotton textile mill centred in India and thus it is rightly called the ‘Cotton polis of India’.

Following are the Factors Which Contribute to the Development of the Cotton Textile Industry in and Around the State of Maharashtra:

1. Maharashtra has a humid type climate which is useful for the growth of cotton. This factor favours the non-breakage of cotton thread.

2. The port facilities present in Maharashtra also helps in importing the long-staple cotton and the machinery as well as the export of the finished products can be easily transferred.

3. Hydroelectricity is a cheap source of power that is adequately available from the nearby areas of Maharashtra.

4. The state is located near the cotton-producing belt.

5. Cheap labour is also from the thickly populated areas of Mumbai. 

6. The city is very well-connected by an efficient network of roads and railways that helps in transporting the raw cotton and then the finished cloth is also transported by the efficient system.

7. The capital with the financial resources is readily available in this city.

8. There is a market that is ever ready to buy cotton textiles both domestically and in the foreign markets.

Data of Cotton Production 

The cotton production in India has increased from 119 lakh bales from the year 1991 - 92 to around 345 lakhs in the year 2016 - 17, this is a growth of 190% over these years. 

Studying the records, it is found that states of Telangana, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh – collectively known as the Cotton Basket of our country produces around two-thirds of the total cotton production of India. In the financial year 2017, India had contributed around 26% to the total global production of cotton. Our country is ranked before China, they contribute around 21% of cotton. 

62% of India’s cotton is produced in rainfed areas, and about 38% is produced on irrigated lands. India also grows all four known species of the cotton variety.The cotton industry in India exports apparels and garments exports, thus contributing around 51% to the overall apparel exports in the financial year 18. Approximately 74% of the apparel that is exported from India is made out of cotton. Cotton is exportable from India; its major export destinations are:

• US

• Bangladesh

• China

• Vietnam

• Pakistan

• Indonesia

• Taiwan 

• Thailand

Bangladesh is known as the largest importer of Indian cotton since the financial year 2015. 

Graph Showing the Export of Cotton from India

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The observed trends from the above graphical presentation

• In the year 2017 - 18, the exports of cotton textiles from India have marginally increased by 0.09% to $ 10.71 bn from $ 10.70 bn in the year 2016 – 2017. 

• The exports of cotton yarns grew by approximately 2.08% in terms of value during the term of 2017 – 18.

• The cotton made-ups have shown a decline of around (-) 3.20% in terms of value.

• The cotton fabrics have reported a growth of around 5.36% during the fiscal year 2017 - 18.

Reputed foreign retailers and foreign brands that heavily import products from the cotton industry of India:

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Did You Know? 

• Cotton has been cultivated for a very long time. The seeds of cotton date back to 450 BC and they were found in Peru.

• Cotton Gin is actually a non-alcoholic drink.

• All of the cotton plants are being used up, there lies no waste.

• The seeds are used to feed the animals and to make cottonseed oil. The plant stalks are tilled back in the soil after the process of harvesting.

• Cotton is quite a sustainable fibre. Their seeds are planted in the springtime and are harvested during the fall. It only takes five to six months for the plant to mature and the bolls to be ready for harvesting.

• The cotton fibre is being made up of cellulose, this is a natural polymer.

• Countries like - Egyptian, Pima and Sea Island are the longest grower of cotton fibre.

• The most common cotton is grown in a variety known as upland cotton. 

• The average fibre length is 1.3 inches as produced by the upland cotton plants.

• If you want to produce finer type yarns out of any variety of cotton, then comb the short fibres before spinning the same into the yarn.

• Comber yarns are removed and are recycled for many products like cotton balls and Q-tips.

• The higher the yarn number, the finer will be the yarn. Hence, a 16 yarn is twice the weight of a 32 yarn

Thus, we see how cotton contributes to the GDP of India. This industry has uplifted huge employment opportunities thus it helps the locals as well. Access to easy growth of this booming industry should be made feasible even more to witness a spectacular income.