The government should look at strengthening farm to factory practices in the cotton sector and adopt a multi-pronged strategy to build export-ready ecosystems and align cotton production with India’s $100 billion textile export target by 2030, according to a knowledge paper ‘Cotton 2040: Technology, Climate and Competitiveness’ released by the Confederation of Indian Textile Industry.
The paper called for promoting high-quality cotton cultivation through certified seeds and sustainable practices, and ensuring consistent quality through traceability systems and global certifications. Collaborative efforts between farmers, industry, and policymakers are key to ensuring that Indian textiles meet international standards in quality, sustainability, and ethical sourcing, it said.
With cotton production facing challenges, the Indian cotton sector stands at a critical juncture where sustainability, innovation, and trade competitiveness must converge to secure long-term growth. There is a need for coordinated action across stakeholders, backed by robust policy, investment, and technology transfer.
The government should promote organic, fair-trade, and circular farming models to capture premium global markets, where sustainable cotton commands 20–30% higher prices. It should streamline procurement and stabilisation mechanisms so that farmers get better prices and reduce their dependency on middlemen.
It should support industry-led innovation in smart textiles and organic blends as India’s technical textiles market projected to reach $40–$50 billion by 2025.
Published – October 07, 2025 09:49 pm IST
