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Date: 2026-05-05Category: Press ReleaseState: Union GovernmentCountry: India
Cabinet approves “Mission for Cotton Productivity” with Rs.5659.22 crore Outlay for Self-Sufficiency in Cotton and Competitiveness in Global Textile Markets by 2030-31
**Executive Summary**
The Union Cabinet has approved the "Mission for Cotton Productivity" with an outlay of Rs.5659.22 crore, spanning from 2026–27 to 2030–31. The mission aims to address declining growth and quality concerns to achieve self-sufficiency and global competitiveness by 2031. Key objectives include increasing lint productivity from 440 kg/ha to 755 kg/ha and reaching a production target of 498 lakh bales.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Seed and Production Enhancements**
* Development of high-yielding, climate-resilient, and pest-resistant seeds.
* Upscaling technologies such as High Density Planting System (HDPS), Closer Spacing (CS), and Integrated Cotton Management.
* Promotion of Extra Long Staple (ELS) cotton.
* **Infrastructure and Quality Control**
* Modernization of 2,000 ginning and processing factories to adopt best practices.
* Strengthening of national cotton testing infrastructure with accredited, standardized facilities for global benchmarking.
* Targeting a trash reduction level of less than 2% in cotton supply.
* **Market and Branding Initiatives**
* Implementation of the "Kasturi Cotton Bharat" initiative for branding, traceability, and certification as a premium, sustainable product.
* Digital integration of market yards (mandis) to enable transparent price discovery and direct market access via e-platforms.
* **Sustainability and Diversification**
* Promotion of cotton waste recycling and circular economy practices to increase resource efficiency.
* Diversification of the fiber base to include natural fibers such as flax, ramie, sisal, milkweed, bamboo, and banana.
* **Implementation Framework**
* Jointly implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare and the Ministry of Textiles.
* Involves 10 ICAR institutes, one CSIR institute, and 10 AICRP centers across 140 districts in 14 states.
**Impact Analysis**
**Farmers**
**Impact**
Approximately 32 lakh farmers will benefit from higher yields, improved realization through digital e-platforms, and access to pest-resistant seed varieties.
**Action Required**
Adopt latest crop production technologies, participate in training programs, and utilize digital mandis for price discovery and market access.
**Ginning and Processing Industry**
**Impact**
Industry players will gain from modernized infrastructure and a supply of high-quality, low-contaminant cotton, improving their competitiveness in global markets.
**Action Required**
Modernize factory units and adopt standardized processing and testing practices to meet "Kasturi Cotton Bharat" certification requirements.
**Research and State Agricultural Agencies**
**Impact**
Institutes under ICAR, CSIR, and State Agricultural Universities (SAUs) are tasked with driving the technological shift and seed development.
**Action Required**
Develop and deploy high-yielding variety (HYV) seeds and provide technical support for upscaling HDPS and other improved farming technologies across 140 districts.
Key Entities Referenced
Mission for Cotton Productivity: A central initiative with a Rs.5659.22 crore outlay designed to enhance cotton yields, quality, and global competitiveness through technological interventions and farmer support.
Kasturi Cotton Bharat: A branding and traceability initiative aimed at positioning Indian cotton as a premium, sustainable, and globally trusted product in international markets.
Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare: A primary implementing ministry responsible for developing high-yielding seeds and upscaling production technologies across major cotton-growing regions.
Ministry of Textiles: A lead ministry tasked with strengthening the cotton value chain, modernizing processing facilities, and aligning the sector with global textile demand.
5F vision: A strategic policy framework (Farm to Fibre to Factory to Fashion to Foreign) of the Government of India that guides the mission's scope and objectives.
Cabinet
Cabinet approves “Mission for Cotton
Productivity” with Rs.5659.22 crore Outlay for
Self-Sufficiency in Cotton and Competitiveness
in Global Textile Markets by 2030-31
Posted On: 05 MAY 2026 6:40PM by PIB Delhi
The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved Rs.5659.22 crore for
Mission for Cotton Productivity (2026–27 to 2030–31) to address bottlenecks, declining growth, and
quality concerns in India’s cotton sector.
The mission aligns with the 5F vision (Farm to Fibre to Factory to Fashion to Foreign) of Government of
India. The Mission focuses on enhancing cotton productivity through development of High yielding
variety (HYV) seeds resistant to disease and pests, scaling up of existing and latest crop production
technologies through states governments, Krishi Vigyan Kendras, and State Agricultural Universities
(SAUs) through large-scale promotion and adoption of latest crop production technologies, ensures least
contaminant cotton supply to industry, and promote high-quality cotton exports with focus on the
following major aspects:
Development of High-yielding, climate resilient, pest-resistant seeds, and other production/protection
technologies
Upscaling improved cotton production technologies like High Density Planting System (HDPS), Closer
Spacing (CS), Integrated Cotton Management, and promotion of Extra Long Staple (ELS) Cotton
Augmenting quality of cotton through capacity building and promoting modernization of ginning and
processing factories, including adoption of best processing practices.
Strengthening cotton testing infrastructure across the country with modern, standardized, and accredited
facilities to ensure reliable quality assessment and global benchmarking.
Robust branding and traceability initiatives under Kasturi Cotton Bharat to position Indian cotton as a
premium, sustainable, and globally trusted product.
Empowering farmers through digital integration of market yards (mandis), enabling transparent price
discovery, direct market access, and improved realization through e-platforms
Promotion of cotton waste recycling and circular economy practices to enhance resource efficiency,
reduce environmental footprint, and generate additional value streams for the industry
Diversification of India’s fibre base by including natural fibres like flax, ramie, sisal, milkweed, bamboo
and banana and advancement of environmentally sustainable textile production and innovations. Its
strategic integration and promotion to complement cotton and align India’s textile sector with evolving
global demand patterns.
The Mission will be implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare and Ministry of
Textiles, involving 10 institutes of Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), one institute of
Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), and 10 centres of All India Coordinated Research
Project (AICRPs) on Cotton operating in different State Agricultural Universities (SAUs) of major cottongrowing states. Initially, 140 districts will be focussed in 14 States through State Department of
Agriculture and ICAR for upscaling the technologies and 2000 ginning/ processing factories.
Development of high-yielding climate resistant and pest-resistant seeds, deploy modern farming
technologies, farmer training, quality improvement, traceability, and strengthening infrastructure by
promoting sustainable fibres and innovation across the cotton value chain.
The Mission envisages to accomplish the production of 498 lakh bales (170 kg lint each) of cotton by
enhancing lint productivity from 440 kg/ha to 755 kg/ha by 2031. Approximately 32 lakh farmers will be
benefitted leading to self-reliance. Promotion of Kasturi Cotton Bharat for traceability and certification,
targeting trash reduction <2% and promotion of natural fibres like flax, ramie, sisal, milkweed, bamboo
and banana. This is a milestone in making the country self-reliant in Cotton Sector.
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