RICE COTTON
Natural inputs Significance
Temperature: High temperatures of 20°-
30°C are needed for the
growth period. A warm and
dry climate for harvesting.
Rainfall: Requires heavy rainfall during Ample rainfall with frequent
the 4-6 months growing
period as rice grows in
standing water.
Soil: An impervious subsoil is
necessary as it holds water.
Land: Level ground because flat
lands can be easily irrigated.
Human inputs Significance
Irrigation facilities: Irrigation bridges the rainfall
gap since rice needs to
constantly grow in standing
water.
Fertilizers: Needed since rice is grown in
Punjab because of its fertile
soil.
Variety of seeds: Varieties have increased
since there has been more
demand for rice exporting.
pesticides: To control various pests and
disease carriers.
Technological support: Cheap and abundant labour /
enough machinery for
sowing, transplanting and
harvesting.
Knowledge about new To improve efficiency,
methods: especially since export has
increased over the years.
Significance
High temperatures of 25° -
35°C since cotton is sensitive
to frost. Mild night
temperatures for the
development of cotton bolls.
showers. No rain during
harvesting as it ruins the boll.
Level land is needed.
Needs manure / fertilizers to
maintain the fertility of the
soil.
Significance
When moisture is needed
and rainfall is not enough,
irrigation needs to be
supplied.
The size of the cotton boll
depends on the application of
fertilizers.
The size of the cotton boll
depends on the variety of
seeds.
To control various pests and
disease carriers that might
get attached to the lint.
Cheap female labourers, the
use of agricultural machinery
speeds up the process.
Helps produce more cotton in
more regions, such as
balochistan.
Skilled labour: Knowledge on how to handle
flooded fields and properly
process rice.
Capital: To afford labourers and
machinery for field work.
Processes Significance
Series of steps: Rice seeds are first grown in
beds / nurseries, and once
they grow to 9 inches they
are transplanted into
prepared fields. These fields
have been flooded by water
and the rice stays in full water
until it is ripe. The water is
then drained for harvesting.
Rice threshing is then done
by either animals / machinery
and after it is taken to get
polished and packing.
To make sure the cotton does
not get infected as it gets
very sensitive towards the
harvesting period.
To be able to afford
automatic cotton picking
machines and agricultural
machinery which speeds up
the process.
Significance
Cotton seeds are sown fairly
apart in April - May. They are
irrigated one month later and
a second irrigation takes
place two months after that.
The cotton bolls ripen in
October - November and are
then harvested and picked.
Afterwards they are sent to
mills where the lint is
separated from the bolls.
That lint is then processed to
make the fabric.