Marketing Practices and Problems of Cotton Cultivators in Nagapattinam District

Abstract

Cotton is one of the most important fiber and cash crop of India and plays a dominant role in the industrial and agricultural economy of the country. Cotton is generally referred to as “White Gold”.  It provides the basic raw material (cotton fibre) to cotton textile industry. Cotton in India provides direct livelihood to 6 million farmers and about 40 -50 million people are employed in cotton trade and its processing. The most important cotton growing regions in India are Gujarat, Maharashtra, Punjab, Haryana, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu. Cotton is one of the main crops in nagapattinam district. The basis of the selection was availability of cotton cultivators in the sample blocks.