Centre Approves ₹5,659 Crore Mission for Cotton Productivity to Boost Farmer Income

Cotton remains a cornerstone of India's rural economy, agricultural prosperity and self-reliance, with the Centre reaffirming its commitment to improving the welfare of cotton farmers and strengthening the country's cotton sector. Speaking at a programme in New Delhi, Union Textiles Minister Giriraj Singh said the government has undertaken several initiatives to ensure better income security, higher productivity and greater global competitiveness for Indian cotton.

Highlighting the government's support measures, Singh said the Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) carried out one of the largest Minimum Support Price (MSP) procurement operations in its history. The agency procured more than 522 lakh quintals of seed cotton (kapas) through nearly 24 lakh farmer transactions, with Rs 41,530 crore transferred directly into farmers' Aadhaar-linked bank accounts. He also announced that the MSP for seed cotton has been increased by around 7 per cent for the 2026–27 cotton season, a move aimed at providing remunerative prices and enhancing income security for cotton growers.

The minister also underscored the significance of the recently approved Cotton Productivity Mission – Kapas Kanti, which has a financial outlay of Rs 5,659 crore over five years. The mission seeks to improve cotton productivity and quality, modernise cotton processing infrastructure, and promote branding and traceability under the Kasturi Cotton Bharat initiative. According to Singh, the programme reflects India's vision of taking premium-quality Indian cotton from "Farm to Fashion to Global Market" through internationally accepted standards of certification, sustainability and traceability.

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Expressing confidence in the sector's future, Singh said coordinated efforts by the government, farmers, industry stakeholders and research institutions would accelerate the growth of India's cotton industry and contribute significantly to the country's vision of becoming a developed nation under the Viksit Bharat initiative. He emphasised that improving productivity, quality and market access would strengthen the cotton value chain while benefiting millions of farmers dependent on the crop.

The event also witnessed the signing of four Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) aimed at strengthening India's cotton ecosystem. Additionally, the 'Kapas Darshan' Bulletin was launched to provide cotton farmers with timely information on weather conditions, market trends, scientific cultivation practices, quality management and various government schemes. Padmini Singla, Joint Secretary (Fibre), Ministry of Textiles, said India's cotton sector is entering a transformative phase driven by innovation, sustainability and productivity enhancement. She added that the ministry remains committed to strengthening the entire cotton value chain, from Farm to Fibre, Fibre to Fabric, and Fabric to Fashion.

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