Cabinet Clears ₹5,659 Crore ‘Mission for Cotton Productivity’ to Boost Output, Quality and Exports by 2031

India is one of the world’s largest cotton producers, yet productivity levels have remained relatively low compared to global benchmarks.

In a major reform push for India's textile and agriculture sectors, the Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the Mission for Cotton Productivity (2026–27 to 2030–31) with an outlay of ₹5,659.22 crore, aimed at addressing stagnating yields, quality concerns, and structural bottlenecks in the cotton value chain.

The ambitious mission aligns with the government's 5F vision—Farm to Fibre to Factory to Fashion to Foreign, and seeks to transform India into a globally competitive, high-quality cotton producer while ensuring better incomes for farmers.

Tackling Productivity and Quality Challenges

India is one of the world's largest cotton producers, yet productivity levels have remained relatively low compared to global benchmarks. The new mission aims to significantly enhance lint productivity from 440 kg per hectare to 755 kg per hectare by 2031, while targeting total production of 498 lakh bales (170 kg each).

The initiative comes at a time when climate variability, pest attacks, and quality inconsistencies have posed challenges for farmers and the textile industry alike.

Focus on High-Yielding, Climate-Resilient Seeds

At the core of the mission is the development and deployment of high-yielding, pest-resistant, and climate-resilient cotton varieties. Research institutions, including ICAR and CSIR, will play a key role in developing next-generation seeds and crop protection technologies.

The move is expected to reduce crop losses, improve yields, and enhance resilience against climate shocks.

Scaling Modern Farming Technologies

The mission places strong emphasis on scaling advanced cultivation practices such as:

• High Density Planting System (HDPS)

• Closer Spacing (CS)

• Integrated Cotton Management

• Promotion of Extra Long Staple (ELS) cotton

These practices are expected to increase productivity per hectare while improving fibre quality—critical for high-value textile manufacturing.

Strengthening Quality, Processing and Infrastructure

Recognising that quality is key to global competitiveness, the mission includes measures to:

• Modernise 2,000 ginning and processing factories

• Promote best practices to reduce contamination

• Strengthen cotton testing infrastructure with accredited labs

• Ensure reliable quality assessment aligned with global standards

The government is also targeting trash content reduction to below 2%, a critical benchmark for premium cotton markets.

'Kasturi Cotton Bharat' to Drive Global Branding

A major highlight of the mission is the expansion of Kasturi Cotton Bharat, a flagship initiative aimed at branding Indian cotton as a premium, traceable, and sustainable product.

With growing global demand for ethically sourced and traceable fibres, this initiative is expected to enhance India's positioning in international markets and boost exports.

Digital Integration and Farmer Empowerment

The mission seeks to empower farmers through digital integration of mandis, enabling:

• Transparent price discovery

• Direct market access

• Better price realisation through e-platforms

Additionally, large-scale farmer training and capacity building will be undertaken to ensure adoption of modern technologies.

Promoting Sustainability and Circular Economy

In line with global sustainability trends, the mission includes:

• Promotion of cotton waste recycling

• Adoption of circular economy practices

• Diversification into natural fibres such as flax, ramie, sisal, bamboo, banana, and milkweed

This diversification aims to complement cotton production while aligning India's textile sector with evolving global demand for eco-friendly materials.

Wide Implementation Across States and Institutions

The mission will be jointly implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare and the Ministry of Textiles, involving:

• 10 ICAR institutes

• 1 CSIR institute

• 10 AICRP centres across State Agricultural Universities

Initially, the programme will focus on 140 districts across 14 major cotton-growing states, directly benefiting around 32 lakh farmers.

Towards Self-Reliance in Cotton Sector

The government expects the mission to significantly enhance farmer incomes, industrial competitiveness, and export potential, while reducing dependence on imports of high-quality cotton.

By integrating innovation, sustainability, and market linkages across the value chain, the Mission for Cotton Productivity is being seen as a milestone initiative to achieve self-reliance in India's cotton sector.

As global demand for sustainable and high-quality textiles rises, the initiative positions India to emerge as a leading supplier of premium cotton and diversified natural fibres in the coming decade.