Cabinet Approves Rs 5,659 Crore Mission For Cotton Productivity

The mission seeks to enhance farm-level yields and strengthen the entire cotton value chain in line with the government’s 5F vision—spanning farm to global markets. It will focus on developing high-yielding, climate-resilient and pest-resistant seed varieties, alongside scaling up modern agronomic practices such as High Density Planting System (HDPS), closer spacing, and integrated crop management. A key component of the programme is improving cotton quality through modernisation of ginning and processing infrastructure, strengthening testing and certification systems, and promoting contamination-free cotton for domestic industry and exports. The initiative also emphasises branding and traceability under Kasturi Cotton Bharat to position Indian cotton as a premium and sustainable product in global markets. The mission will be implemented jointly by the Ministries of Agriculture and Textiles, with support from institutions such as the Indian Council of Agricultural Research and the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, along with State Agricultural Universities. Initially, it will cover 140 districts across 14 states and involve around 2,000 ginning and processing units. In addition to productivity enhancement, the programme includes measures to digitise agricultural markets, promote cotton waste recycling, and diversify fibre production by encouraging natural fibres such as flax, bamboo, and sisal to align with evolving global demand. The mission targets an increase in cotton production to 498 lakh bales by 2031, with lint productivity rising from 440 kg per hectare to 755 kg per hectare. It is expected to benefit approximately 32 lakh farmers and contribute to greater self-reliance in the cotton sector while strengthening India’s position in global textile markets. (KNN Bureau)