Textile minister Giriraj Singh reiterates focus on cotton sector
The Cotton Productivity Mission, carrying an outlay of Rs 5,659 crore, was highlighted as the government's flagship initiative to boost cotton farm productivity and fibre quality
The Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) marked its foundation day, with procurement figures for the season reported at over 522 lakh quintals of seed cotton under Minimum Support Price (MSP) operations
Four Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) were signed to strengthen cotton quality standards and market access
The initiatives are positioned as steps toward making Indian cotton more competitive as a premium fibre in global textile markets
Minimum Support Price (MSP) Mechanism and the Cotton Corporation of India
MSP is the price at which the government commits to purchase specified crops from farmers to protect them against a sharp fall in market prices. The Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP) recommends MSPs, which are then approved by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA). For cotton specifically, the Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) — a Public Sector Undertaking under the Ministry of Textiles, established in 1970 — is designated as the central nodal agency for MSP procurement operations.
Key Details
- CCI was incorporated on 31 July 1970 under the Companies Act, functioning under the Ministry of Textiles
- CACP recommends MSP for 22 mandated crops including cotton; CCEA gives final approval each season
- CCI procures Fair Average Quality (FAQ) cotton without quantitative ceiling whenever market (spot) prices fall below the notified MSP, acting as a price-support buyer of last resort
- CCI's procurement network spans major cotton-growing states through several hundred procurement centres
The reported procurement of over 522 lakh quintals of seed cotton is CCI performing its statutory MSP price-support role, distinct from open-market trade — it activates specifically when market prices dip below the CACP-recommended, CCEA-approved MSP.
Mission for Cotton Productivity and the "5F" Value Chain Vision
The Cotton Productivity Mission (2026-27 to 2030-31) is a Cabinet-approved scheme aimed at reversing India's stagnant cotton yields and declining global competitiveness by modernising cultivation practices, ginning/processing infrastructure, and quality standards. It is framed within the government's "5F" vision for the textile sector — Farm to Fibre to Factory to Fashion to Foreign.
Key Details
- Mission outlay: Rs 5,659 crore over the 2026-27 to 2030-31 period
- Focus areas include climate-resilient and extra-long-staple cotton varieties, modernisation of ginning and pressing infrastructure, and reducing contamination in raw cotton
- India is among the largest cotton producers globally by area sown but has lagged in per-hectare yield compared with major competitors, which the mission targets
- Complements other textile-sector interventions such as PM MITRA (mega textile parks) and the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme for textiles
The Minister's reiteration of focus on the cotton sector ties the productivity mission's long-term structural goals (yield, quality) to the immediate procurement and branding measures (MSP operations, MoUs) needed to make Indian cotton globally competitive by 2030-31.
Kasturi Cotton Bharat — Traceability and Branding
Kasturi Cotton Bharat is a certification and branding initiative for Indian cotton, intended to guarantee quality, purity, and traceability from farm to fabric, positioning Indian cotton as a distinct, trusted "premium" global brand comparable to country-of-origin cotton brands abroad.
Key Details
- The Kasturi Cotton brand was launched around World Cotton Day (7 October) in 2022
- Traceability is enabled through digital/blockchain-based tracking of the cotton's journey from farm to finished product
- The initiative involves coordination between CCI, the Cotton Textiles Export Promotion Council, and textile industry bodies
The MoUs signed to "strengthen quality and market access" fall under this broader Kasturi Cotton Bharat branding and traceability push, aimed at capturing a price premium for Indian cotton in export markets.
- Cotton Productivity Mission outlay: Rs 5,659 crore (2026-27 to 2030-31)
- CCI seed cotton procurement (season cited): over 522 lakh quintals
- CCI established: 31 July 1970, under the Ministry of Textiles
- MSP recommending body: CACP; approving body: CCEA
- Kasturi Cotton Bharat brand launched: October 2022
- Number of MoUs signed for quality/market access: 4