The Union Cabinet has approved  Rs 5,659.22 crore (US $595 million) for a new “Mission for Cotton Productivity” for 2026–27 to 2030–31, to address structural bottlenecks, declining growth, and quality concerns in India’s cotton sector.

The government has set a target of producing 498 lakh bales of cotton, each weighing 170 kg by 2030–31, while increasing lint productivity from 440 kg per hectare to 755 kg per hectare. Approximately 32 lakh farmers will be benefitted, leading to self-reliance. 

The new mission will address key challenges in the cotton value chain while improving productivity and ensuring high-quality output for both domestic industry and exports. It will also strengthen quality standards, boost productivity, and enhance the global competitiveness of Indian cotton.

The mission focuses on enhancing cotton productivity through development of High yielding variety (HYV), climate-resilient and pest-resistant seed varieties, along with scaling up modern crop production technologies through state governments, Krishi Vigyan Kendras, and State Agricultural Universities. 

It also promotes advanced practices such as High Density Planting System (HDPS), closer spacing, and integrated cotton management, while encouraging the cultivation of Extra Long Staple (ELS) cotton. 

The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare and the Ministry of Textiles will jointly oversee the mission , which will  involve 10 ICAR institutes, one CSIR institute and 10 centres of AICRP on Cotton across major cotton-growing states. Initially, 140 districts in 14 states and 2,000 ginning and processing factories will be covered for technology upscaling, farmer training and infrastructure strengthening.

The Confederation of Indian Textile Industry (CITI) welcomed the Cabinet’s decision, stating that the Mission for Cotton Productivity will support India’s ambition of building a US $350 billion textile and apparel industry by 2030, improve farm productivity and sustainability, and ensure a steady supply of quality cotton.

According to officials the mission will boost technology deployment, farmer training, infrastructure strengthening, and sustainable fibre innovation, and represents a comprehensive push to transform India’s cotton industry  in global textile markets.