CITI hails cabinet approval of Cotton Productivity Mission
The Confederation of Indian Textile Industry (CITI) has hailed the Cabinet’s approval of the Rs 56.59 billion ($595 million) Mission for Cotton Productivity as a breakthrough for the country’s high-value textile value chain. Operational from 2026 to 2031, the mission seeks to address a critical yield disparity: while India remains the world's second-largest cotton producer, its lint productivity of 440 kg per hectare significantly trails the global average of nearly 800 kg per hectare. By deploying High-Density Planting Systems (HDPS) and climate-resilient seeds, the government aims to increase productivity to 755 kg per hectare by 2031. This surge is essential to meet the domestic demand forecast of 450 lakh bales, especially as the nation targets $100 billion in textile exports by the decade's end.
This mission is the catalyst required to transform our raw material base from a volume-led model to a quality-centric one, opines Ashwin Chandran, Chairman, CITI, noting that zero-duty access under new Free Trade Agreements with the UK and EU demands consistent, high-grade Extra Long Staple (ELS) cotton. Beyond the farm, the initiative earmarks funds for modernizing 2,000 ginning factories to ensure ‘zero-trash’ fiber quality. While fragmented landholdings and pest-related volatility remain operational challenges, the digital integration of market yards and the ‘Kasturi Cotton Bharat’ traceability branding are expected to command a premium in the global sustainable luxury segment. Success in this mission could potentially reduce India’s reliance on high-quality imports, which surged to 50 lakh bales in the 2025-26 season.
The Confederation of Indian Textile Industry (CITI) is the apex chamber representing the entire textile value chain, including ginning, spinning, and garmenting. Serving major global markets, it focuses on policy advocacy and supply chain modernization. CITI is currently spearheading the industry’s $350 billion roadmap through public-private sustainability partnerships.