Lok Sabha Question No. 1418 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-12-09
Subject: Decline in Cotton Production
Ministry: TEXTILES
Asked by: Shri Raja Ram Singh

## DECLINE IN COTTON PRODUCTION

## 1418. SHRI RAJA RAM SINGH:

Will the Minister of TEXTILES वस्त्र मंत्री be pleased to state :

(a) whether decline in cotton production in yield due to the resurgence of pests, and the prevalence of adverse climatic conditions and appropriate policy measures the Ministry is intending to introduce and if so, the details thereof;

(b)  whether  the  Government  intends  on  introducing  production-linked  incentive  scheme  for  the  seed industry, along with a research-linked incentive scheme and if so, the details thereof;

(c) if not, the specific schemes are in place to be introduced under the proposed Five-Year Mission on cotton production;

(d) whether cotton productivity trials has selected the districts with low cotton productivity and if so, the details thereof, State-wise; and

(e) the list of districts with high cotton productivity, State-wise?

## उत्तर

## ANSWER )

## वस्त्र राज्  य मंत्री ( श्री पबित्र मार्घेररटा

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR TEXTILES (SHRI PABITRA MARGHERITA)

(a) to (c): A  combination  of  factors,  including  a  reduction  in  the  area  under  cotton  cultivation, adverse climatic conditions such as uneven rainfall and extreme temperatures in predominantly rainfed regions, the negative impact of monocropping on soil health, a shift by farmers to more remunerative crops,  and  the  resurgence  of  major  pests  like  pink  bollworm  and  whitefly,  along  with  increased incidence of diseases such as cotton leaf curl virus, boll rot, Tobacco Streak Virus, and other emerging secondary pests have affected cotton production and yield in recent years.

To enhance cotton productivity and quality, promote innovation and strengthen the entire textile value chain,  a  five-year  'Mission  for  Cotton  Productivity'  has  been  announced  in  the  Union  Budget  202526.   The Mission aims to boost cotton production through strategic interventions, including research and extension activities across all cotton- growing states. The Mission also proposes to focus on developing climate-  smart,  pest-resistant,  and  high-yielding  cotton  varieties,  including  Extra  Long  Staple  (ELS) cotton, using advanced breeding and biotechnology tools.

Further, a Special Project on Cotton titled 'Targeting technologies to agro-ecological zones-large scale demonstration of best practices to enhance cotton productivity' has been implemented by ICARCentral Institute for Cotton Research (CICR), Nagpur in 8 major cotton growing states under National Food  Security  and  Nutrition  Mission  (NFSNM)  during  FY  2023-24  and  FY  2045-25  to  enhance productivity of cotton and production of ELS cotton.   The Special Project was further extended during FY 2025-26.

- (d): Under  the  ' Mission  for  Cotton  Productivity' ,  districts  have  been  identified  for  productivity enhancement  based  on  their  low  cotton  productivity  and  area  coverage.  The  Mission  targets  these districts for upscaling of region-specific technologies and best practices.  State-wise details of selected districts are annexed as Annexure-I.
- (e): ICAR-CICR has identified high-productivity  cotton-growing  districts  across  the  major  cottonproducing States based on area coverage. The State-wise details are annexed as Annexure-II.

## Annexure-I

(i) Large area - Low productivity (37 districts):

| State          | District                                                                                                                                                       |
|----------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Haryana        | Bhiwani                                                                                                                                                        |
| Madhya Pradesh | Barwani, Burhanpur, Khargone                                                                                                                                   |
| Gujarat        | Ahmadabad, Botad                                                                                                                                               |
| Maharashtr a   | Akola, Amravati, Aurangabad, Beed, Buldhana, Chandrapur, Dhule, Jalgaon, Jalna, Nanded, Nandurbar, Parbhani, Wardha, Yavatmal                                  |
| Telangana      | Jangoan, Jogulamba, Khammam, Yadadri, Mahabubabad, Mahbubnagar, Mancherial, Medak, Nagarkar nool, Nalgonda, Vikarabad, Narayanapet, Rangareddi, Warangal Urban |
| Andhra Pradesh | Kurnool                                                                                                                                                        |
| Karnataka      | Raichur                                                                                                                                                        |

- (ii) Less area - low productivity (40 districts):

| State          | District                                                                              |
|----------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Haryana        | Charki Dadri, Rewari                                                                  |
| Rajasthan      | Bikaner, Jhunjhunu, Churu, Nagaur                                                     |
| Madhya Pradesh | Alirajpur, Chhindwara, Dhar, Jhabua, Ratlam Khandwa                                   |
| Gujarat        | Junagadh, Porbandar, Patan                                                            |
| Maharashtra    | Ahmednagar, Nashik, Gadchiroli, Hingoli, Latur, Osmanabad                             |
| Telangana      | Mulugu, Wanaparthy                                                                    |
| Andhra Pradesh | Anantapur, Kadapa, Prakasam, Vizianagaram                                             |
| Karnataka      | Belgaum, Bijapur, Chamarajanagar, Chitradurga, Dharwad, Gadag, Haveri, Koppal, Mysuru |
| Tamil Nadu     | Ariyalur, Perambalur, Salem, Tiruchirappalli                                          |

## Annexure-II

## (i) Large Area - High Productivity (25 districts; Benchmark yield: 586 kg lint/ha):

| State          | District                                                                                                   |
|----------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Punjab         | Fazilka                                                                                                    |
| Haryana        | Hisar, Sirsa                                                                                               |
| Gujarat        | Amreli, Bharuch, Gir Bhavnagar, Jamnagar, Chhotaudepur, Somnath, Narmada, Surendra Nagar, Vadodara, Rajkot |
| Maharashtra    | Nagpur                                                                                                     |
| Telangana      | Adilabad, Bhadradri, Jayashankar, Komaram Bheem Asifabad, Nirmal, Rajanna, Sangareddy, Siddipet, Warangal  |
| Andhra Pradesh | Guntur                                                                                                     |
| Karnataka      | Yadagir                                                                                                    |

## (ii) Less Area - High Productivity (41 districts; Benchmark yield: 576 kg lint/ha):

| State          | District                                                                                                                           |
|----------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Punjab         | Bathinda, Mansa, Muktsar                                                                                                           |
| Haryana        | Fatehabad, Jhajjar, Rohtak, Mahendragarh, Mewat, Palwal                                                                            |
| Rajasthan      | Ajmer, Alwar, Pali, Banswara, Bharatpur, Bhilwara, Chittorgarh, Ganganagar, Jodhpur Hanumangarh                                    |
| Gujarat        | Aravalli, Banas, Tapi Kantha, Devbhumi Dwarka, Gandhinagar, Kachchh, Kheda, Mahesana, Mahisagar, Morbi, Panch Mahals, Sabar Kantha |
| Maharashtra    | Washim                                                                                                                             |
| Telangana      | Jagitial, Kamareddy, Karimnagar, Suryapet, Peddapalli                                                                              |
| Andhra Pradesh | East Godavari, Krishna                                                                                                             |
| Karnataka      | Bellary, Gulbarga                                                                                                                  |

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