Cabinet Approves ₹5,659 Crore Mission for Cotton Productivity Till 2030-31

The Union Cabinet has approved the Mission for Cotton Productivity with a total outlay of ₹5,659.22 crore for the period from 2026-27 to 2030-31, as per a PIB report.  

The programme has been cleared to address concerns around lower productivity growth, pest-related crop losses, and quality issues in the cotton sector. 

The mission will be implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare along with the Ministry of Textiles. The government said the programme is aligned with its 5F approach covering farm, fibre, factory and export-linked textile production. 

Production Targets and Coverage 

The government has set a target to increase cotton production to 498 lakh bales by 2031. Lint productivity is projected to rise from 440 kg per hectare to 755 kg per hectare during the mission period. 

In the first phase, the programme will cover 140 districts across 14 cotton-growing states. About 32 lakh farmers are expected to be covered under the initiative. 

The implementation structure includes participation from 10 institutes under the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), one institute under the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), and 10 research centres operating under State Agricultural Universities. 

Focus on Seeds and Farming Practices 

The programme includes development of high-yielding, climate-resilient and pest-resistant cotton seed varieties.  

The government also plans to expand the use of High Density Planting System (HDPS), closer spacing methods and integrated cotton management practices. 

Training and technology support will be provided through Krishi Vigyan Kendras, state agriculture departments and agricultural universities. The mission also includes promotion of Extra Long Staple (ELS) cotton production. 

Processing and Quality Measures 

The government plans to strengthen cotton testing infrastructure through modern and standardised facilities for quality assessment. Modernisation of ginning and processing units has also been included in the programme framework. 

Around 2,000 ginning and processing factories are expected to be covered under the mission. The programme also includes traceability and certification measures under the Kasturi Cotton Bharat initiative. 

Read More: RBI Distributes Portfolios to Its 4 Deputy Governors! 

Conclusion 

The mission will run till 2030-31 with focus on seed development, productivity improvement, quality testing, and processing infrastructure. The programme also includes promotion of natural fibres such as flax, ramie, sisal, bamboo and banana alongside cotton cultivation. 

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