Why was the cotton textile industry concentrated in the cotton growing belt in the early years? Explain.
In the early years, the cotton textile industry was concentrated in the cotton growing belt of Maharashtra and Gujarat. Availability of raw cotton, market, transport including accessible port facilities, labour, moist climate, etc contributed towards its localisation.
This industry has close links with agriculture and provides a living to farmers, cotton boll pluckers and workers engaged in ginning, spinning, weaving,dyeing, designing, packaging, tailoring and sewing.
The industry by creating demands supports many other industries, such as, chemicals and dyes, mill stores, packaging materials and engineering works. These all factors determine location of cotton mill in early years.