Extra Long Staple Cotton
04-02-2025
09:30 AM
1 min read

Extra Long Staple Cotton Latest 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, 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.
- Origin and distribution of Extra Long Staple Cotton:
- 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 rain fed parts of Atpadi taluka in Maharashtra’s Sangli district, and around Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu.
- 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.
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 premium produce at premium prices.
Extra Long Staple Cotton FAQs
Q1: What are the long staple cotton varieties?
Ans: Giza 70 and Giza 88 are the major ELS varieties.
Q2: Where is extra long staple cotton grown?
Ans: It is grown in the U.S., Australia, Peru and a few other locations around the world
Q3:What are the disadvantages of long staple cotton?
Ans: Compared to other cotton varieties, long staple cotton is costly.
Source: IE