India’s Cotton Crisis: Understanding the Decline and the Way Forward

Once hailed as the world’s largest cotton producer and exporter, India is witnessing a sharp decline in cotton production. This downturn threatens the nation’s textile economy and global trade position. The reasons for this decline are multifaceted, involving technological stagnation, pest infestation, and policy inertia.

🌾 The Rise of Indian Cotton Production: A Brief Background

India’s cotton journey saw massive success during the early 2000s. The introduction of hybrid cotton varieties by scientists like C.T. Patel and B.H. Katarki in the 1970s laid the foundation. The Bt cotton revolution in 2002–03, which incorporated genes from Bacillus thuringiensis, provided effective pest control, especially against the destructive American bollworm.

By 2013–14, Bt cotton covered over 95% of India’s cotton area, with yields nearly doubling to 566 kg/ha, propelling India to the top position in global cotton production by 2015–16.

A woman harvesting cotton in a field, surrounded by cotton plants with fluffy white bolls.

🚨 Why is Cotton Production Declining Now?

Despite this initial success, India’s cotton sector has since faced a troubling stagnation:

1. Technological Stagnation

No new GM cotton variant has been approved since 2006.
Indigenous innovations like whitefly- and pink bollworm-resistant cotton are stalled in regulatory processes.
The 2010 moratorium on Bt brinjal created a chilling effect, discouraging further field trials of GM crops.

2. Pest Infestation: Pink Bollworm

Pink bollworm (PBW), once controlled by Bt, has developed resistance.
PBW now infests crops just 40–45 days after sowing, damaging bolls and flowers, reducing both yield and quality.
Exclusive cultivation of Bt cotton accelerated this resistance.

3. Falling Yields

From a peak of 39.8 million bales in 2013–14, production is projected to fall to 29.5 million bales in 2024–25.
Yields have dropped below 450 kg/ha, far behind global leaders like China (1,993 kg/ha).

📉 Key Concerns Arising from Cotton Decline

1. Rising Imports

Imports doubled from USD 518.4 million (2023–24) to USD 1.04 billion (2024–25).
Meanwhile, exports fell, reversing India’s traditional trade surplus in cotton.

2. Policy Contradictions

Despite rejecting GM cotton field trials, India allowed GM soyameal imports in 2021.
This dual stance reflects a lack of scientific consistency and discourages innovation.

3. Loss of Global Market Share

Countries like the US and Brazil, which adopted biotech solutions, now dominate the export space.
India’s textile industry has become reliant on imported cotton, increasing costs and reducing competitiveness.

4. Impact on Edible Oil

Cottonseed is India’s third-largest source of edible oil.
A drop in cotton production also reduces oil availability, adding pressure to India’s vegetable oil import bill.

🛠 What Can Be Done: Pathways to Revive Cotton Production

To restore India’s cotton leadership, a multi-pronged strategy is needed:

✅ 1. Technological Interventions

Fast-track approval of pest-resistant GM cotton hybrids.
Support indigenous innovations stuck in regulatory bottlenecks.

✅ 2. Promote High-Density Planting System (HDPS)

Increase plant population per hectare to maximize yields.

✅ 3. Strengthen Farmer Extension Services

Scale up platforms like Cott-Ally for updates on MSP, weather, pest alerts.
Enhance knowledge dissemination via Krishi Vigyan Kendras and the Cotton Corporation of India.

✅ 4. Improve Market Linkages

Expand Kasturi Cotton branding with QR-code traceability to boost global buyer confidence.
Support post-harvest infrastructure and price assurance mechanisms.

✅ 5. Operationalize Cotton Missions

Implement the five-year Mission for Cotton Productivity (Budget 2025–26).
Promote Extra-Long Staple (ELS) cotton to reduce reliance on imports and cater to premium markets.

✅ 6. Boost Textile Value Chain

Incentivize investments in spinning, weaving, and garmenting linked to cotton clusters.

Infographic about cotton cultivation in India showcasing a woman holding cotton, with details on cotton species and a map indicating major cotton-growing states divided by agro-ecological zones.

🧵 Conclusion

India’s cotton story is one of lost momentum due to missed opportunities. While technological revolutions once put India on the global cotton map, policy paralysis now threatens that position. If India is to reclaim its leadership, a science-led, farmer-first approach must guide the way. Timely reforms, strategic investments, and enabling regulations are key to revitalizing the cotton sector and sustaining the millions of livelihoods it supports.