# India shifts cotton strategy from protection to productivity 2026-08-07T06:01:24+00:00 | Governance | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 1 independent outlet The textiles ministry has reoriented its cotton strategy from pest protection to productivity improvement, targeting a yield increase of at least 50 kg per hectare annually under the Rs 5,659 crore Cotton Productivity Mission (Kapas Kanti). The goal is to raise average productivity from 428 kg/ha in FY26 to 755 kg/ha by FY31. India's current yield is well below the global average of 833 kg/ha despite having the world's largest cotton area. However, the Committee on Cotton Production and Consumption has estimated that production in the 2025-26 season will drop to 290.24 lakh bales from 297.24 lakh bales last season, according to The Hindu. Imports are rising sharply, with raw cotton imports up 54.6% to $1.86 billion in FY26, as per Livemint. ## Coverage - livemint.com - thehindu.com Tags: agriculture, cotton, imports, Kapas Kanti, textiles Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/centre-targets-higher-cotton-yields-as-imports-rise/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/centre-targets-higher-cotton-yields-as-imports-rise/#story-in-brief Review state: restored archive article, accurate at time of publication, not offered to search indexes.