India eyes global cotton leadership through yield & quality boosts

She highlighted the key developments in the cotton sector and shared insights on cotton production, trade, and initiatives aimed at enhancing productivity and quality. "As we all know, textiles are a key focus area for development by the government of India. In this regard, the union budget has announced the technology mission on cotton to drive growth and innovation in the sector,” said Rashi.

She further emphasised the importance of cotton as a premier fibre and a crucial contributor to the textile value chain. Continuous assessment at the field office level, in collaboration with stakeholders, ensures that the industry’s strengths and evolving requirements are effectively addressed.

Lalit Kumar Gupta, chairman-cum-managing director, The Cotton Corporation of India Ltd, also shared insights on the various initiatives undertaken by the government of India to increase yield and productivity. He highlighted the Akola Model, which promotes best farm practices by replicating high-yield agricultural patterns.

Rashi expressed confidence that the cotton textile value chain will continue to generate strong returns for all stakeholders, driven by a focus on productivity and quality. She highlighted key initiatives to enhance cotton quality, including branding under ‘Kasturi’ to establish India’s cotton as a premium global product, improved ginning processes to maintain superior fibre quality and collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture to boost production through HDPS (High-Density Planting System) and advanced farming techniques.

"Various departments, including the Ministry of Agriculture, NABARD, state government agencies, have come together to support this model, which requires a high quantity of quality seeds. The initiative is being piloted in Akola. If successful, this model can be extended to other farmers across the country to enhance overall productivity," Gupta stated.

During the meeting, a comprehensive review of the cotton scenario was undertaken, covering state-wise area, production, import, export, and consumption trends. The committee assessed current production, import, and export trends, concluding that India will have adequate cotton availability as a raw material for the textile industry in the upcoming season.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (RR)