With this, an estimated Rs 150 lakh sunk into this experiment by two states -- Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra -- seems to have gone down the drain. On the other hand, given its vast potential, both USA and Israel are understood to have identified large tracts of land for cultivation of coloured cotton.

The experimental cultivation of coloured cotton undertaken at Khandawa and Dharpad in Madhya Pradesh in 1995-96, at a cost of Rs 80 lakh, has failed to attract the interest of the textile industry.

The cultivation of coloured cotton was taken up on a commercial basis in 1996-97 after completion of the trial project in Khandawa. About 20 lakh bales of KC-94-1 cotton (an American variety which is brownish in colour) was produced during the year. However, theentire stock is said to be lying unsold with the Madhya Pradesh State Seed Development Corporation, sources informed.

Cultivation of DDCC-1 variety of domestic coloured cotton (also brown in colour) was undertaken at Dharpad on a trial basis at a cost of Rs 13 lakh but the failure at Khandawa prompted the authorities to hold back the commercial production and withdrew the support given to farmers earlier. A similar project undertaken at a cost of Rs 60 lakh at Nagpur has also failed.The initial attempts to cultivate coloured cotton is highly expensive. These efforts could be profitable only if it is taken up with an assured buying tie-up from actual users. Further, the fibre of coloured cotton has been found to be weak vis-a-vis the white cotton. The poor quality of fibre strength do not attract the spinners as they face several problems in spinning coloured cotton.

The scientist testing the coloured cotton are of the opinion that there is a co-relation between the density of colour and the strength ofthe fibre. Higher the density of the colour in coloured cotton, lower is the fibre strength, they opine. Some scientists feel that the problem of fibre strength could be solved by mixing white cotton to a certain extent. However, this will further dilute the density of the intended colour acceptable to users/spinners.

Despite these initial constraints, industry sources maintain, there is a good potential to cultivate grey, brown and pink coloured cotton in the country provided of course, the right technology and suitable climate is available.

There could be a good offtake of coloured cotton if the strength of the fibre is increased to acceptable levels as it would become far more cheaper and easier to dye the fabric made from colored cotton. What is more, not all agriculture land is suitable for cultivation of coloured cotton. Currently, the coloured cotton is sown only in select districts of Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra.

Meanwhile, The US of America has identified Texas as the best place tocultivate coloured cotton and it is being successfully cultivated on about 80,000 acres of land. Similarly, Israel too has also achieved a reasonable success in cultivation of coloured cotton over some 75,000 acres of land.