New mission aims to raise cotton output, improve fibre quality and strengthen India’s textile value chain under the 5F vision

The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved the ambitious ₹5,659.22 crore Cotton Productivity Mission, a large-scale national initiative aimed at reviving India’s cotton sector through research, technology adoption, quality enhancement and farmer-focused interventions.

Announcing the decision, Union Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan described the mission as a “historic and transformative step” for cotton farmers, the textile industry and India’s agricultural economy.

The mission will run from 2026-27 to 2030-31 and is designed to strengthen the entire cotton value chain under the government’s integrated 5F framework — Farm, Fibre, Factory, Fashion and Foreign.

Key Highlights

• Cabinet approves ₹5,659.22 crore Cotton Productivity Mission
• Mission period: 2026-27 to 2030-31
• Cotton productivity target to rise from 440 kg/ha to 755 kg/ha
• Cotton production target set at 498 lakh bales by 2031
• Around 32 lakh farmers expected to benefit
• Initial implementation across 140 districts in 14 states
• ₹555 crore allocated for advanced cotton research
• ₹3,804 crore earmarked for large-scale field-level technology expansion
• Focus on pest-resistant, climate-resilient and high-yield cotton varieties
• Strong emphasis on traceability, sustainability and textile export competitiveness

Mission to Address Long-Standing Cotton Sector Challenges

India currently contributes more than 21 percent of global cotton production, with cotton cultivated across over 11.4 million hectares. However, the sector has been grappling with declining productivity, climate vulnerability, pink bollworm resistance, soil degradation and inconsistent fibre quality.

According to Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan, the widening gap between domestic consumption and production highlighted the urgent need for a scientific and coordinated intervention.

The new mission seeks to address these concerns by integrating modern research, technology-driven farming practices and large-scale farmer outreach programmes.

Research and Technology at the Core

Under the mission, the Department of Agricultural Research & Education (DARE) will receive ₹555.05 crore for research-led interventions focused on developing:

• High-yielding cotton varieties
• Climate-resilient hybrids
• Pest-resistant seeds
• Region-specific Extra Long Staple (ELS) cotton
• Indigenous and coloured cotton varieties
• Advanced genome editing and transgenic technologies

Simultaneously, the Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare will utilise ₹3,804.17 crore to scale up advanced farming systems including:

• High-density planting systems
• Narrow-spacing cultivation
• Integrated crop management
• Scientific field demonstrations

The programme will initially cover nearly 24 lakh hectares across 140 districts in major cotton-producing states.

Big Push for Textile and Export Industries

The mission is expected to significantly strengthen India’s textile ecosystem by ensuring stable availability of high-quality cotton for spinning, apparel manufacturing and exports.

The government is also pushing for better traceability and certification under “Kasturi Cotton Bharat,” aimed at positioning Indian cotton as a premium and sustainable global product.

The initiative is particularly important for India’s fashion, hospitality and textile sectors, where demand for traceable, sustainable and premium-quality natural fibres is growing steadily.

SCO Cooperation to Strengthen Agricultural Trade Safety

Alongside the Cotton Productivity Mission, the Union Cabinet also approved cooperation mechanisms with member nations of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation for safe agricultural trade, plant quarantine and phytosanitary measures.

The agreement aims to:

• Strengthen food security
• Reduce pest-related risks in agricultural trade
• Improve plant quarantine systems
• Enhance technical cooperation and capacity building
• Facilitate safer cross-border agricultural commerce

The Centre stated that the cooperation framework will improve regional agricultural security and strengthen long-term trade confidence among participating countries.

Long-Term Vision for Cotton Self-Reliance

The government expects the mission to play a critical role in making India self-reliant in cotton production while supporting farmer incomes and export growth.

By 2031, the mission aims to nearly double cotton production from the current 297 lakh bales to 498 lakh bales, while creating a more resilient and globally competitive cotton economy.