Context
The Union Cabinet has taken a green signal for a mission to improve cotton production and bring an end to the misery of India’s cotton sector, which is plagued by stagnation.
Key Highlights
- Cotton is one of the greatest producers of cotton in the world, and the production has been declining. Over the last few years, quality issues have been a major problem in India.
- To address these structural issues, the government has initiated a cotton productivity Mission that involves 5 years of work (2026-2031) and has clearly targeted farmers, quality, and technology.
Background: Challenges in India’s Cotton Sector
- Although the land area is relatively large, the productivity is quite low and is not high enough compared to the standards of the globe.
- Yield instability due to pest attack and climate change.
- Inadequate seed quality and technology adoption in many areas.
- The small, unpredictable markets and chains of production threaten farmers’ profits.
- Significant scope of improvement in cotton production was observed in the current period of 2012–2013, with a production of approximately 290 lakh bales.
Key Features of the Cotton Productivity Mission
- This allocation of funds is for the financial outlay for five years (from 2026 to 2031).
- Production Target: Production of cotton is increased to around 498 lakh bales.
- Productivity Goal: Lint production is increased to 755 kg/ha from 440 kg/ha.
- Approx. 32 lakh farmers are expected to benefit from farmer coverage.
- Focus Areas:
- Cultivation of high-yielding and pest-resistant cvs.
- Application of modern farming systems
- Cultivating stronger extension services and awareness among farmers
- Improved quality control and value chain efficiency
Importance of the Mission
- To promote the income of the farmers
- An increase in productivity results in an improvement in profit and stability of income.
- Enhancing Global Competitiveness
- The enhancement in quality will give India more strength in the world’s textiles.
- Reducing Import Dependence
- Assists with increasing Self-reliance in Cotton & Textile raw materials.
- Employment Generation
- Bolsters the textile value chain, which is a significant source of jobs.
- Support to MSMEs and Textile Industry
- Ensures a steady supply of good quality cotton for spinning industries and the apparel industry.
Concerns and Limitations
- Implementation Gaps
- Previous schemes have struggled in delivering at the ‘last mile’.
- Climate Change Risks
- Game weather and/or unpredictable rainfall can affect results.
- Technology Adoption Barriers
- Small farmers and marginal farmers might have problems to overcome in terms of money and awareness.
- Market Volatility
- With a rise in yield, price change is even more likely to decrease farmers’ incentives.
Way Forward
- Encourage sustainable cotton production in the face of climate change.
- Promote drought-resistant crops and methods of agriculture.
- Strengthen Research & Development
- Investigate Biotechnology and high-yielding hybrid seeds.
- Improve Extension Services
- Improve enabling farmer training and digital advisory services.
- Ensure Market Linkages
- Improve the MSP framework and export promotion policies.
- Integrate Value Chain
- Improve processing and storage systems, and logistics.
Conclusion
- The cotton productivity mission is a strategic change from the past emphasis on the expansion of area to improving efficiency.
- When carried out effectively, it can revolutionise the Indian cotton industry into a higher yielding, farmer friendly, global competitively strong and quality-driven industry.
Source: The Indian Express
Mains PYQ
Q. Analyse the factors for the highly decentralised cotton textile industry in India. (2013)
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