India may be one of the world’s largest cotton producers, but its low productivity continues to limit the competitiveness of the textile value chain. As the Government’s Mission for Cotton Productivity sets out to improve yields, fibre quality and farmer profitability, the focus is shifting from acreage-led growth to quality-led transformation. In this interview, Dr Siddhartha Rajagopal, Executive Director, TEXPROCIL, speaks with Divya Shetty on the urgent interventions needed in cotton farming, the role of Kasturi Cotton Bharat in building global trust, and how policy, research and industry collaboration can strengthen India’s farm-to-fibre ecosystem.
How do you assess India’s current cotton productivity gap, and what are the most urgent areas that need intervention?
India remains one of the world’s largest cotton producers, but its productivity continues to lag significantly behind leading cotton-producing nations. The Government is addressing the challenge through the recently approved Mission for Cotton Productivity, which aims to raise lint productivity from about 440 kg per hectare to 755 kg per hectare by 2030-31.
The productivity gap is not merely a farm issue; it directly affects the competitiveness of India’s textile value chain. The most urgent interventions are:
- Development and adoption of next-generation, climate-resilient seed varieties.
- Improved pest and disease management, particularly against pink bollworm and emerging climatic stresses.
- Wider dissemination of precision farming practices and scientific agronomy.
- Mechanisation in cotton cultivation and harvesting.
- Strengthening fibre-quality testing and contamination control at the farm and ginning levels.
- Better extension services to transfer research outcomes quickly to farmers.
The focus must shift from maximising acreage to maximising productivity, fibre quality and farmer profitability. Higher yields combined with better fibre parameters will improve the competitiveness of India’s spinning, weaving and apparel sectors.
How can the Government’s Cotton Productivity Mission help strengthen the textile value chain from farm to fibre?
The Mission for Cotton Productivity represents a significant structural reform because it links agriculture and industry through a common objective of producing more and better-quality cotton. The Cabinet-approved programme has an outlay of Rs 56.59 billion for the period 2026-27 to 2030-31 and aims to increase production to 498 lakh bales while benefiting around 32 lakh farmers.
The mission can strengthen the entire value chain in several ways:
- Ensuring a more reliable supply of quality cotton to spinning mills.
- Reducing contamination and variability in fibre characteristics.
- Promoting traceability and certification systems through Kasturi Cotton Bharat.
- Encouraging the adoption of improved seeds and scientific cultivation practices.
- Supporting research, mechanisation and technology transfer.
- Reducing dependence on imports of premium and extra-long staple cotton over time.
A stronger farm-to-fibre ecosystem will improve raw material security, enhance yarn quality, increase export competitiveness and strengthen India’s ambition of becoming a leading global textile sourcing destination.
What role can Kasturi Cotton Bharat play in improving trust, traceability and quality perception of Indian cotton globally?
Kasturi Cotton Bharat is India’s flagship initiative for quality assurance and branding of the country’s cotton, similar to how leading agricultural and textile brands globally have built trust through certification and traceability.
The Government has integrated Kasturi Cotton Bharat into its cotton-sector strategy. The programme focuses on testing, certification for quality assurance, branding, on-product end-to-end traceability with indigenously developed blockchain-based tracking and QR-code-based platform.
Its significance lies in three areas:
Quality assurance: Established quality standards, testing and certification protocols enables a regular and consistent supply of the finest of Indian cotton that the global textile value chain can rely upon.
Traceability: End-to-end digital tracking helps verify cotton origin and processing history, reducing risks associated with contamination and mislabelling.
Sustainability: Collaborations with global leaders including the Better Cotton Initiative (BCI) , CottonConnect and Regenagri will enable the production of sustainable, premium Indian cotton.
Kasturi Cotton Bharat is unique movement from which all stakeholders benefit from a common, low-cost model that provides a single positioning of the best of Indian cotton. MSMEs and large integrated Indian textile giants together derive value from the global premium positioning of Kasturi Cotton Bharat.
What policy, pricing or procurement reforms are needed to encourage farmers to produce better-quality cotton?
Quality improvement requires that farmers receive a clear economic reward for producing superior cotton.
Some important reforms include:
- Introducing quality-linked price premiums based on fibre parameters such as staple length, strength, micronaire and contamination levels.
- Expanding access to accredited testing facilities closer to production centres.
- Encouraging segregation of cotton by quality grades at procurement centres.
- Strengthening farmer-producer organisations (FPOs) and aggregation mechanisms.
- Promoting certified seeds and quality assurance programmes.
- Expanding awareness on contamination-free harvesting and post-harvest handling.
- Encouraging contract farming and industry-farmer partnerships where quality specifications are clearly defined.
A shift from volume-based procurement towards quality-based procurement can create powerful incentives for farmers. Such reforms would align farmer interests with the needs of the spinning and textile industry while increasing export competitiveness.
How can industry bodies, research institutions and government agencies work together to improve cotton productivity and fibre quality?
Improving cotton productivity and quality requires a collaborative ecosystem rather than isolated interventions.
A coordinated framework could involve:
Government
- Policy support, funding and implementation of the Mission for Cotton Productivity.
- Strengthening extension services and digital advisory platforms.
- Facilitating quality testing and certification infrastructure.
Research Institutions
- Development of high-yielding, climate-resilient and pest-resistant cotton varieties.
- Research on agronomic practices, mechanisation and sustainable cultivation methods.
- Dissemination of validated technologies through demonstration projects.
Industry Bodies and Textile Associations
- Providing market intelligence on fibre quality requirements.
- Supporting training programmes for farmers and ginners.
- Promoting Kasturi Cotton Bharat certification and traceability systems.
- Creating direct linkages between farmers, ginners, spinners and exporters.
The recently approved Mission for Cotton Productivity itself envisages a convergence approach involving the Ministries of Agriculture and Textiles, research institutions and industry stakeholders. This integrated model can help address productivity, quality, traceability and sustainability simultaneously, thereby strengthening India’s position in global textile markets.