Now Reading: Centre targets higher cotton yields as imports rise
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Centre targets higher cotton yields as imports rise
The Centre plans to lift average cotton productivity from an estimated 428 kg per hectare in FY26 to 755 kg by FY31 under its Rs 5,659 crore Cotton Productivity Mission, Kapas Kanti.…
The Story in Brief
The Centre plans to lift average cotton productivity from an estimated 428 kg per hectare in FY26 to 755 kg by FY31 under its Rs 5,659 crore Cotton Productivity Mission, Kapas Kanti. The textiles and agriculture ministries will promote high-density planting, better seed varieties and improved farm practices.
India’s cotton output is estimated to fall to 29.1 million bales in FY26 from 33.66 million in FY23, while cultivated area has declined to 115.25 lakh hectares. Raw cotton imports rose 54.6% to $1.86 billion in FY26, Livemint reports. The government expects production to reach 49.8 million bales by FY31, against projected consumption of 45 million bales.
The Indian Opinion
The claim that pest control alone can revive cotton is outdated, but portraying productivity as a quick fix is also too easy. Farmers still need reliable seeds, labour-saving equipment and returns that cover rising costs. The mission’s credibility will depend less on its headline target than on whether yields rise beyond the recent 428 to 443 kg range without pushing cultivation risks onto farmers. Will official productivity cross 500 kg per hectare first?
Source: livemint.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
