Giriraj Singh Unveils New Growth Agenda For Cotton Sector
The Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) celebrated its 56th Foundation Day in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Maharashtra, with Union Minister of Textiles Giriraj Singh reaffirming the government’s commitment to strengthening India’s cotton sector through higher farmer incomes, productivity enhancement and sustainable growth initiatives.
Addressing the gathering, Singh described cotton as a pillar of India’s rural economy and highlighted CCI’s record procurement performance during the 2025-26 cotton season. The corporation procured over 522 lakh quintals of seed cotton (kapas) through nearly 24 lakh farmer transactions, resulting in direct payments of ₹41,530 crore to farmers’ Aadhaar-linked bank accounts.
The Minister also announced that the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for kapas has been increased by around 7% for the 2026-27 cotton season to ensure remunerative returns and income security for cotton growers.
A major focus of the event was the recently approved Cotton Productivity Mission – Kapas Kanti, a ₹5,659-crore initiative aimed at improving cotton productivity, quality and sustainability over the next five years. The mission will support modernisation of cotton processing infrastructure, promote traceability and branding through Kasturi Cotton Bharat, and encourage climate-resilient farming practices.
On the occasion, CCI launched the ‘Kapas Darshan’ Bulletin, designed to provide farmers with timely information on weather, market trends, cultivation practices, quality management and government schemes. Modern farm equipment, including kapas plucker machines, cotton stalk shredders and contamination control kits, was also distributed to farmers and Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs).
The event witnessed the signing of four strategic Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) aimed at strengthening India’s cotton ecosystem. The agreements focus on quality improvement in ginning and pressing, sustainability and traceability under Kasturi Cotton Bharat, carbon credit generation through climate-smart cotton cultivation, and the development of a premium traceable cotton supply chain.
Speaking at the event, Joint Secretary (Fibre) Padmini Singla said India’s cotton industry is entering a transformative phase driven by innovation, sustainability and productivity enhancement. She noted that the Cotton Productivity Mission and Kasturi Cotton Bharat would play a key role in improving global competitiveness and strengthening the cotton value chain from farm to fashion.
CCI Chairman-cum-Managing Director Lalit Kumar Gupta highlighted the corporation’s 56-year journey in safeguarding farmers’ interests through transparent and technology-driven procurement systems, reaffirming its commitment to supporting cotton growers and contributing to the vision of Viksit Bharat @2047.
