Following liberalizing economic reforms in the late 1980s and early 1990s, India is now the world's second fastest growing economy, as well as its second most populous. Faster growth is strengthening and diversifying consumer demand, and India is now among the world's leading importers of cotton, vegetable oils and pulses.

Despite a rich and extensive agricultural resource base and burgeoning subsidy outlays, farm sector performance has remained sluggish, creating pressure for reform of domestic agricultural policies. It has been difficult to achieve consensus on the reform agenda, but measures to increase market orientation, improve marketing efficiency, and strengthen incentives for private investment are likely to be key goals.

Indian cotton use is expanding due to rising demand in India and increased textile and apparel exports following the removal of Multifiber Arrangement quotas. Reforms to policies that discriminate against large scale manufacturing and use of manmade fibers should boost export competitiveness and demand growth. Raw cotton exports have increased recently, with future growth dependent on how much progress is made in improving domestic cotton yields and quality

Comparable
Foreign Growth U.S. Mot, Pakistan Afzal /1467 General Remarks J34 RG & SG are grown in the states of Punjab, Haryana & Rajasthan and total production per annum is around of 2.6 million bales of each of 170 kgs.

Comparable
Foreign Growth U.S. Mot, Sudanese Shambat, Pakistan Afzal /1467 General Remarks Principally this variety is grown in Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. Total production is 1.6 million tons.

Comparable
Foreign Growth West African, Brazilian, Tanzanian, Paraguan and Argentine. General Remarks This type of cotton is mainly grown in the states of Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra. Quantity of yield per year is about 1.7 million bales each of 170 kgs.

HYBRID-4
Pedigree Guj.67(G.hir.) x American nectariless (G.hirs.) Duration June/July to November/February. It is grown in the States of Gujarat. Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh under irrigated and assured rainfall conditions. Fibre Properties

Comparable
Foreign Growth West African, Brazilian, Tanzanian, Paraguan and Argentine. General Remarks It is generally cultivated in well drained black sandy loam soil. This variety matures about 5-6 weeks early as compared to other standard Gujarat cottons. It has continuous production of flushes of flowers and bolls. It is estimated that production of Hybrid-4 may be around 13 lacks bales. (of 170 Kgs.) if the entire country is taken into consideration. Thus it easily meets the internal demand and export needs as well. Japanese technicians have produced a fine textured fabric of gossamer quality from this cotton. Innumerable enquiries are being made by European countries and Japan for this cotton variety.

SHANKAR-6.
 Pedigree G.Dot.100(G.hirs.) X G.Cot.10(G.hirs.) Duration Sown in the month of June-July and is ready for picking in November and may extend upto February. Fibre Properties

Comparable
Foreign Growth U.S. Fiber Max/Acala, W. African, Australian, Brazilian, Tanzanian, Syrian. General Remarks Shankar-6 is cultivated in an area of 4 .4million acres in the state of Gujarat.

DSHANKAR-4
 Pedigree G.cot.100 (G.hir.) x G.cot.10 (G.hir.) Duration The crop is generally sown in the month of June-July, the first flowers appear in 60-75 days after sowing and the bolls appear within 190-210 days after sowing. The crop is ready for harvest by November and may extend up to February. Fiber Properties

Comparable
Foregin Growth California Acala SJV, Elpaso, Colombia Acala, Australia LS80 General Remarks The plant grows to a height of 120-150 cms. It is susceptible to bollworms and mildly susceptible to prodenia and mites. This variety is spreading fast on account of its high demand in the market. Now it is the major variety of cotton in the whole of Gujarat and in Maharashtra also in an appreciable area adjoining to Gujarat this cotton is grown. This hybrid cotton has fibre characters similar to that of Hybrid 4 and is early by about 2 weeks. It is in great demand by the textile industry in India, Europe and Japan

MCU-5
Pedigree Developed from crosses involving Sea Island,542,MCU1, MCU-2 and Gatooma. Duration It is sown in the months of mid August to mid-September and bolls are ready for picking by February and may go on upto April. Fibre Properties

Comparable
Foreign Growth U.S., Ultima RG, Egyptian Giza 86/Giza 89,Sudanese Barakat. General Remarks This variety is grown in the states of Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Orissa and Maharashtra. Total production is about 5 lakh bales.

Comparable
Foreign Growth UU.S. SJV/Acala, Egyptian Giza 86/Giza 89,Sudanese Barakat, Chinese 229. General Remarks This hybrid cotton was developed by a private company Naziveedu seeds limited in A.P. under brand name 'SUBEEJ' successfully. It can withstand extreme climates like drought and excess rains. This is a new variety of cotton grown in the states of Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Karanataka and Madhya Pradesh with a total annual production of 3.5 million bales. It is suitable for counts upto 40s and for weaving enduses as the yarn made out of this variety gives good strength.

Comparable
Foreign Growth U.S. Pima, Egyptian Giza 88/Giza 70, Sudanese Barakat, Chinese 146,CIS ELS, Australian Pima, Israeli Pima. General Remarks DCH-32 grows in the states of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Madhya Pradesh. Production of this variety is 1.5 lakh bales.

Comparable
Foreign Growth Egyptian Giza 45. General Remarks Suvin is the most superior cotton grown in India and is comparable to Egyptian Giza 45 and Sudan VS cotton. It easily spins 120s count. The attractive feature of this variety is that its fibre characters remain uniform the first picking to the last picking. With the release of Suvin, imports of Egyptian Cottons were completely done away with.