Extra Long Staple Cotton

05.02.2025

Extra Long Staple Cotton

Why in the news?                        

Recently, the union finance minister announced a five-year mission to “facilitate significant improvements in productivity and sustainability of cotton farming, and promote extra-long staple (ELS) cotton varieties”.

About Extra Long Staple Cotton:

• It is commonly hailed as the gold standard in textile manufacturing, and holds a coveted position in the world of high-quality fabrics.
• Most ELS cotton comes from the species Gossypium barbadense, commonly known as Egyptian or Pima cotton.
• ELS varieties boast fibre lengths of 30 mm and above.
• The warm temperatures and rich soil contribute to the growth of cotton fibres that are not only long but also uniform, resulting in stronger and finer yarns.
• It does not require intense finishing processes, which helps preserve these innate qualities.

Origin and distribution:

• It originated in South America and today it is mainly grown in China, Egypt, Australia and Peru.
• In India, some ELS cotton is grown along rainfed parts of Atpadi taluka in Maharashtra’s Sangli district, and around Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu.

Issues of Extra Long Staple Cotton in India:

• Yield: It gives lower than average per acre yields, experts say. While the medium staple variety yields between 10 and 12 quintals per acre, ELS cotton has a yield of only 7-8 quintals.
• Marketing issue: Farmers growing ELS cotton are often unable to market their produce at premium prices.

                                                                Source: The Times of India

Consider the following statements regarding Extra Long Staple Cotton:

Statement-II It is commonly hailed as the gold standard in textile manufacturing.

Statement-II: It is only grown in China and Peru region.

Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

A.Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct, and Statement-II is the correct explanation for Statement-I.

B.Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct, and Statement-II is not the correct explanation for Statement-I.

C.Statement-I is correct, but Statement-II is incorrect.

D.Statement-I is incorrect, but Statement-II is correct.

Answer C