The government of India has announced comprehensive initiatives aimed at establishing the country as a preferred global supplier of premium cotton and textile products. These announcements, unveiled during a press conference in Mumbai, follow the second meeting of the Committee on Cotton Production and Consumption (COCPC) for the 2024-25 cotton season. The meeting, chaired by Textile Commissioner Roop Rashi, brought together key stakeholders from the central and state governments, the textile industry, cotton trade, and the ginning and pressing sector.
With textiles positioned as a cornerstone of India’s economic development strategy, the government has reaffirmed its commitment to boosting productivity, ensuring quality, and expanding global market reach. Roop Rashi emphasized the importance of cotton as the premier fiber in the textile value chain, while outlining targeted efforts to enhance India’s role in international markets. Among the initiatives highlighted is the newly launched Technology Mission on Cotton, a strategic program announced in the Union Budget. This mission seeks to drive growth, innovation, and competitiveness across the cotton and textile sectors.
The government’s focus on branding Indian cotton as a premium product is exemplified by the “Kasturi” initiative. This branding effort aims to position India’s cotton as a high-quality, globally recognized product. Additional measures include improving ginning processes to maintain superior fiber quality and collaborating with the Ministry of Agriculture to promote advanced farming techniques. High-Density Planting Systems (HDPS) are being introduced to increase yield per acre and achieve greater efficiencies in cotton farming.
As part of these efforts, the Akola Model has been identified as a pilot initiative aimed at replicating best practices in high-yield agriculture. Spearheaded by the Cotton Corporation of India, this model involves collaborative support from entities such as the Ministry of Agriculture, NABARD, and state government agencies. It focuses on the use of quality seeds and modernized cultivation practices, offering the potential to be extended to farmers nationwide.
The COCPC meeting provided a comprehensive review of India’s cotton sector, assessing supply, demand, and export trends for the 2024-25 season. Projections for the upcoming season indicate adequate cotton availability for the domestic textile industry. The balance sheet prepared by the committee includes a projected crop output of 294.25 lakh bales (5 million tons) for 2024-25, down from 325.22 lakh bales (5.53 million tons) in 2023-24. Imports are expected to rise, with estimates reaching 25 lakh bales (425,000 tons), up from 15.20 lakh bales (258,400 tons) in the previous season.
On the demand side, total consumption for 2024-25 is projected at 336 lakh bales (5.71 million tons), comprising 210 lakh bales (3.57 million tons) for non-MSME textile units, 92 lakh bales (1.56 million tons) for MSMEs, and 16 lakh bales (272,000 tons) for non-textile uses. Exports are forecast to decline to 18 lakh bales (306,000 tons) from 28.36 lakh bales (482,120 tons) in 2023-24. Closing stocks are expected to fall to 30.35 lakh bales (516,000 tons) from 47.10 lakh bales (801,000 tons).
These projections, combined with ongoing quality enhancement efforts, demonstrate the government’s holistic approach to ensuring India’s competitive edge in the global cotton and textile markets. The focus on productivity and quality is expected to generate strong returns across the value chain, benefiting farmers, manufacturers, and exporters alike. The government’s initiatives are poised to transform India’s cotton landscape, further strengthening its position as a leader in the global textile industry.
