Question

Mention some problems of cotton textile industry.

Mention two problems faced by the cotton textile industry.

Mention three main problems faced by the cotton textile industry in India.

Discuss some problems of cotton textile industry.

Answer 1

Problems of the Cotton Textile Industry in India are:

• Raw Material Supply Issues: After the partition of India, most of the superior quality cotton-growing areas went to Pakistan, leaving India with only 27% of the cotton-producing area. This caused a serious problem in obtaining raw cotton to feed the mills. Though this problem was partially solved by bringing new areas under cotton cultivation, it remained a challenge in the early phase of the industry’s growth.
• Labor Unrest: For example, Mumbai, once known as the “Cottonopolis” due to its dominance in the cotton textile industry, lost much of its importance because many mills shut down due to labor unrest and other related issues.
• Climatic Sensitivity: Cotton textile production requires a humid climate because threads break frequently in dry climates, which affects the efficiency of workers and the quality of the fabric. Artificial humidification increases production costs.
• Regional Imbalances: The industry is heavily clustered around cotton-growing regions, leading to uneven industrial development with many areas outside these tracts lagging behind.
• Competition from Other Regions: Mills in cities like Mumbai have declined whereas other centers such as Ahmedabad, Coimbatore, and Kanpur have risen, indicating a shift that has caused challenges in some older centers.
• Infrastructure and Cost Considerations: Though some centers like Ahmedabad have advantages such as cheap land, cheap hydroelectricity, and skilled labor, others may not have all these benefits, making it difficult to sustain competitiveness.
• Market Orientation: The industry tends to be market-oriented, located near major population centers or ports to reduce transport costs. This limits the location choices and can create bottlenecks.