- Government targets 498 lakh bales output by 2031
- Modernised ginning, ELS cotton promotion to strengthen textile competitiveness
India has approved an INR 5,659.22 crore ‘Mission for Cotton Productivity’ for the 2026-27 to 2030-31 period, aiming to revive cotton yields, improve fibre quality and strengthen the country’s position in global textile markets. The mission comes at a time when India’s cotton sector is facing declining productivity, rising pest pressure, inconsistent fibre quality and growing competition from other exporting origins.
The programme targets cotton production of 498 lakh bales of 170 kg each by 2031, with lint productivity expected to rise to 755 kg per hectare from the current 440 kg/ha. The government said nearly 32 lakh farmers are likely to benefit from the initiative.
The mission focuses on developing high-yielding, climate-resilient and pest-resistant cotton seeds, including Extra Long Staple (ELS) varieties, while expanding High Density Planting System (HDPS), closer spacing techniques and integrated crop management practices.
The programme will initially cover 140 districts across 14 major cotton-growing states through collaboration between the Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Textiles, ICAR institutes, SAUs and research centres.
Focus shifts to quality and traceability
A major component of the mission is the modernisation of around 2,000 ginning and processing factories to improve contamination control and bale quality. Strengthening testing infrastructure and expanding traceability under the Kasturi Cotton Bharat initiative are expected to improve acceptance of Indian cotton in premium export markets. The government has also set a target to reduce trash content in cotton to below 2%.
The policy comes as India’s cotton balance sheet remains tight. Government data shows cotton production declined to 292.15 lakh bales in 2025-26, while imports rose sharply to 40 lakh bales amid lower domestic availability. Closing stocks are projected to fall further to 40.65 lakh bales.
For cotton ginners, the mission could accelerate investments in modern contamination-free processing and bale traceability systems. Traders may benefit from improved quality consistency and export competitiveness, especially in premium fibre segments. For spinning millers, higher domestic availability of quality lint and ELS cotton could gradually reduce dependence on imports and improve raw material reliability over the medium term. However, execution, seed adoption and farmer participation will remain critical to achieving the targeted productivity gains.
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