From Crisis to Comeback: India Spins a Bold Mission to Rescue Its Cotton Legacy

India has unveiled a sweeping new strategy to tackle its cotton crisis, putting the spotlight on a five-year "Mission for Cotton Productivity" aimed at revitalising the backbone of its textile industry and supporting millions of farmers. This mission, announced in the Union Budget 2025-26, comes at a critical time as India faces declining yields, rising imports, and mounting global competition.

 

Key Highlights

 

Five-Year Cotton Mission Launched: The government has rolled out a dedicated mission to boost productivity, sustainability, and quality, especially focusing on extra-long staple (ELS) cotton varieties.

 

Science & Technology Support: The mission promises cutting-edge support to farmers, including improved seeds, advanced farming techniques, and better pest management to combat threats like the pink bollworm.

 

Budget Boost: The Ministry of Textiles received a 19% budget hike, with ₹5,272 crore allocated for 2025-26, underlining the government’s commitment to the sector.

 

Integrated 5F Vision: The mission aligns with the "Farm to Fiber to Fabric to Fashion to Foreign" approach, aiming to strengthen the entire value chain and increase exports.

 

Branding & Quality Initiatives: Efforts like the "Kasturi" cotton brand and improved ginning processes are underway to position Indian cotton as a premium product globally.

 

Reducing Import Dependence: With imports now surpassing exports for the first time in years, the mission seeks to restore India’s self-reliance and global competitiveness.

 

MSME Focus: As 80% of textile capacity is driven by MSMEs, the mission is expected to boost small businesses and generate rural employment.

 

Pilot Models and Collaboration: Initiatives like the Akola Model, involving multiple government agencies, are being piloted to demonstrate best farming practices and could be scaled nationwide.

 

This multi-pronged approach aims to turn around India’s cotton fortunes, ensuring steady supply for the textile industry, improving farmer incomes, and reclaiming India’s position as a global cotton powerhouse.

 

Source: livemint.com, PIB, Indian Express