<h3>Overview</h3>
<p>The Union Government approved <strong>Rs 5,659.22 crore</strong> for the <span class="key-term" data-definition="Mission for Cotton Productivity — A five‑year (2026‑31) scheme to enhance cotton yield, quality and value chain using science & technology (GS3: Agriculture)">Mission for Cotton Productivity</span> on 5 May 2026. The scheme, announced in the Union Budget 2025‑26, aligns with the <span class="key-term" data-definition="5F vision — Farm → Fibre → Factory → Fashion → Foreign, a strategic roadmap for the textile sector (GS3: Industry)">5F vision</span> and aims to secure a steady supply of high‑quality cotton for the Indian textile industry.</p>
<h3>Key Developments</h3>
<ul>
<li>Allocation of <strong>Rs 5,659 crore</strong for 2026‑31 to upgrade seed, production technology, processing, branding and market access.</li>
<li>Target to raise lint productivity from <strong>440 kg/ha to 755 kg/ha</strong> and produce <strong>498 lakh bales</strong> of cotton by 2031.</li>
<li>Introduction of <span class="key-term" data-definition="Kasturi Cotton Bharat — A certification and branding initiative focusing on traceability, certification and premium branding of Indian lint cotton (GS3: Agriculture)">Kasturi Cotton Bharat</span> to position Indian cotton as a globally trusted product.</li>
<li>Digital integration of mandis for transparent price discovery and direct farmer‑buyer linkages.</li>
<li>Promotion of circular economy through cotton‑waste recycling and diversification into natural fibres such as flax, ramie, sisal, bamboo and banana.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Important Facts</h3>
<p>India produced <strong>290.91 lakh bales</strong> of cotton in 2025‑26, with Maharashtra, Gujarat, Telangana, Karnataka and Rajasthan as the top five states. Cotton is a semi‑xerophytic crop requiring 15 °C minimum temperature for germination, 21‑27 °C optimum for vegetative growth, and 210 frost‑free days with 50‑100 cm rainfall. The major agro‑ecological zones are:</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Northern Zone</strong>: Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan – well‑drained alluvial soils.</li>
<li><strong>Central Zone</strong>: Gujarat, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh – black clayey soils.</li>
<li><strong>Southern Zone</strong>: Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka – black and mixed black‑red soils.</li>
</ul>
<p>India uniquely cultivates all four cotton species – <em>G. arboreum, G. herbaceum, G. barbadense</em> and <em>G. hirsutum</em>.</p>
<h3>Core Interventions</h3>
<ul>
<li>Seed improvement: high‑yielding, climate‑resilient, pest‑resistant varieties.</li>
<li>Production technology: scaling <span class="key-term" data-definition="High Density Planting System (HDPS) — A method of planting cotton at closer spacing to increase per‑ha yield (GS3: Agriculture)">HDPS</span>, <span class="key-term" data-definition="Extra Long Staple (ELS) Cotton — Cotton with fibre length > 35 mm, valued for premium textiles (GS3: Industry)">ELS</span> cotton, and Integrated Cotton Manageme
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