India's Cotton Sector

India is the world's largest cotton-growing country by area and one of the top producers globally, yet its yield per hectare (approximately 440 kg lint/ha) significantly lags behind global leaders: China (~1,900 kg/ha), Australia (~2,000 kg/ha), and Brazil (~1,700 kg/ha). This yield gap has three primary causes: (a) variety and seed quality — dominance of Bt cotton with declining pest resistance and limited hybrid improvement; (b) agronomic practices — suboptimal fertilisation, irrigation, and pest management; and (c) climate vulnerability — cotton is highly susceptible to bollworm infestations, irregular rainfall, and temperature extremes.

Bt cotton, introduced commercially in India in 2002, initially caused a yield revolution (productivity jumped from ~300 to ~560 kg/ha by 2013-14), but yields have plateaued and even declined in recent years as pink bollworm resistance to Bt toxins has developed. The Mission's focus on climate-resilient, pest-resistant, and high-yielding varieties addresses this directly.