Collecting Cotton in Bhutan

Abstract

Bhutan, situated in the Himalayan ranges lies to the north of West Bengal and
Assam, and west of Sikkim between longitude 89' and 92° east and latitude 28'
north of equator. It is a hilly country interspersed with mountains and valleys,
varying in altitudinal ranges and climatic diversity. The temperature ranges from
mild in foot hills to icy cold on high altitudes. The congenial edaphic and climatic
factors in foot hills have circumscribed the cotton cultivation upto an altitude of
800-1000 metres only. It is said that about 20-25 years back, cotton was frequently
cultivated in the eastern parts of Bhutan in the districts of Samdrup Jongkar,
Shumar, Tashigang, Mongar, Shemgarg and Chirang. However, the area under
cotton has since then reduced considerably first due to uneconomic return from
this crop and secondly due to competition from better remunerative