Answer

• India's cotton sector is a critical component of the agricultural and textile economy, contributing nearly 2% to GDP, 10% of industrial production, and 8% of export earnings.
• Supports over 6 million farmers and provides employment to 40–50 million people.
• However, cotton production has been declining, highlighting structural weaknesses in the sector.

Key Challenges

Low Productivity and Yield Stagnation

• Average yield remains around 440 kg/ha, significantly below the global average of 770 kg/ha.
• Fragmented landholdings and limited adoption of high-density planting restrict productivity.

Pest Resistance

• Excessive dependence on ageing Bt cotton varieties has led to Pink Bollworm resistance, causing substantial yield losses and higher pesticide expenditure.

Climate Vulnerability

• About 67% of cotton cultivation is rain-fed, making production highly sensitive to erratic monsoons and climate change.

Labour and Harvesting Constraints

• Manual harvesting on nearly 95% of acreage increases labour costs and contamination of cotton lint.

Technological Stagnation

• Limited introduction of new transgenic technologies since Bollgard-II (2006) has constrained genetic improvement against pests and climate stress.

Government Initiatives

• Mission for Cotton Productivity (2026–31)à Targets productivity enhancement through climate-resilient and pest-resistant seeds.
• Kasturi Cotton Bharatà Promotes quality assurance and traceability using QR codes and blockchain technology.
• CCI's Cott-Ally Appà Provides MSP information, procurement details, and payment tracking.
• Kapas Kisan Appà Facilitates Aadhaar-based registration and transparent MSP procurement.
• Committee on Cotton Production and Consumption (COCPC)à Ensures coordination among stakeholders.

Way Forward

• Accelerate research and approval of next-generation biotech cotton varieties.
• Promote micro-irrigation and climate-resilient farming practices.
• Encourage mechanized harvesting through subsidies and custom hiring centres.
• Strengthen extension services and digital advisories.
• Develop integrated pest management strategies and improve seed quality.

Conclusion

Enhancing productivity, technological innovation, and climate resilience is essential for sustaining India's leadership in the global cotton sector and strengthening the textile value chain while improving farmer incomes.