Question

India recently announced a second phase a Cotton Technical Assistance Programme for African countries. Choose the correct statements among the following:

1. The grouping of Mali, Benin, Burkina Faso and Chad is popularly called Cotton-4.

2. Cotton crop is best grown commercially in Red and Lateritic soils in India.

3. The Cotton Corporation of India Ltd. releases MSP for Fair Average Quality grade Kapas before the start of procurement season.

1. Only 1
2. Only 1 and 3
3. Only 2 and 3
4. 1, 2 and 3

Answer 1

Correct Answer - Option 2 : Only 1 and 3

The correct answer is Only 1 and 3.

• India implemented a technical assistance program (TAP) for cotton in six African countries, namely Benin, Burkina Faso, Chad, Malawi, Nigeria, and Uganda, from 2012 to 2018.
• India will cover five more African countries in the second phase of its cotton technical assistance program (TAP) for the region.
• The Cotton TAP program will now cover 11 African countries including the C4 (Benin, Burkina Faso, Chad, and Mali).
  • The grouping of Mali, Benin, Burkina Faso, and Chad is popularly called Cotton-4. Hence 1 statement is correct.
• Cotton is a Kharif crop that requires 6 to 8 months to mature.
• Cotton cultivation is closely related to deep black soils (regur) of the Deccan and the Malwa Plateaus and Gujarat. Hence 2 statement is incorrect.
  • It also grows well in alluvial soils of the Satluj-Ganga Plain and red and laterite soils of the peninsular regions.
• sandy loam soil is best for cotton crops.
• CCI is undertaking Minimum Support Price (MSP) operations when prices of Fair Average Quality (FAQ) grade kapas before the start of procurement season. Hence 3 statement is correct.
  • The FAQ grade cotton procured under MSP operations is of superior quality which is of higher value.
  • The cotton procured by CCI under MSP operations is made available to the industry on daily basis through e-auction.

• Technical Assistance Programme (TAP) covers the following broad areas
  • Increasing cotton production (area expansion and productivity enhancement).
  • Improving Extension & Support Service Efficiency.
  • Enhancing R&D/ Quality Control.
  • Marketing/Distribution Infrastructure.
  • Strengthening/development of cotton residue-based value addition industry.
  • Creating/Strengthening Downstream Industry in Textiles and Clothing.