Question

Which was the earliest cotton manufacturing belt of India? Why cotton textiles flourished in this region? Give two reasons.

Answer 1

The earliest cotton manufacturing belt of India was the Mumbai-Ahmedabad region, also known as the Western Cotton Textile Belt.

Cotton textiles flourished in this region primarily due to the following two reasons:

• Abundant raw material availability: Mumbai was located close to the cotton producing areas of Maharashtra and Gujarat. Before the start of the mill industry, practically all cotton was brought to Mumbai for export, making raw cotton readily available to the mills set up there. About 80% of the cotton textile industry is coterminous with the cotton growing tracts of India, including Maharashtra and Gujarat region.
• Market and transport advantages with favorable industrial infrastructure: Mumbai had port facilities for export and import, excellent communication links with the hinterland, and proximity to cheap abundant labor. The humid climate of the region was also beneficial for cotton textile manufacturing, as threads break frequently in dry climates. Mumbai became known as the ‘Cottonopolis of India’ because of these factors, making it an ideal location for cotton textile industry growth.