Current Affairs Government Scheme Indian Economy CLAT 2027 CLAT GK
13 May 2026 · Source: The Indian Express, Delhi Edition · Reuters · PIB · Live Law
The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved the Mission for Cotton Productivity (MCP) with a total outlay of ₹5,659.22 crore for FY 2026–27 to FY 2030–31. The Mission aims to raise India’s cotton yield from the current 460–470 kg per hectare to over 600 kg/ha — closing the gap with China (~1,800 kg/ha) and Brazil (~1,700 kg/ha) — and to double cotton fibre exports.
📌 Key Facts at a Glance
- Outlay: ₹5,659.22 crore over FY 26–27 to FY 30–31
- Yield target: 470 → 600 kg/ha by 2031
- Production target: 33 → 46 million bales
- ELS (Extra-Long Staple) share: 1% → 8%
- 1,000 cotton FPOs to be formed; drip irrigation on 8 lakh hectares
Background
(a) High-Density Planting System (HDPS) with HD-Bt seeds — 1.6–2.5 lakh plants/ha vs current 80,000/ha; (b) Extra-Long Staple (ELS) cotton mission for value-added textiles; (c) Farmer FPO formation — 1,000 cotton FPOs in 5 years; (d) Subsidised drip irrigation on 8 lakh hectares; (e) digital advisory via the e-Cotton portal integrated with PMFBY (insurance) and Bhuvan-NRSC (satellite imagery).
Main Analysis
Productivity targets
Yield: 470 → 600 kg/ha by 2031; production: 33 → 46 million bales; ELS share in total production: 1% → 8%. The global yield benchmark is ~800 kg/ha; China and Brazil exceed 1,700 kg/ha through HDPS and irrigation. India lags despite Bt cotton penetration (>95% since 2014) due to pest resistance and rain-fed dependence.
Pink bollworm strategy
A National Pink Bollworm Action Plan, with mass-release of Sterile Insect Technique (SIT) and pheromone-based monitoring, will cover 100% of Maharashtra, Gujarat and Telangana — the three states that account for 65% of India’s cotton acreage. Pink bollworm has reversed Bt cotton’s early yield gains in major belts since 2018.
MSP and procurement
The Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) MSP for long staple cotton is ₹7,521 per quintal (2025–26). The new mission strengthens CCI’s procurement infrastructure with 200 new gins and an electronic auction platform. With Bangladesh and Vietnam emerging as major textile competitors, India needs both cost competitiveness and quality (ELS) cotton to retain global market share. The mission complements PM MITRA Parks (2021) and the National Textile Mission.
🎯 Key Takeaways
- Outlay: ₹5,659.22 crore over FY 26-27 to FY 30-31
- Yield target: 470 → 600 kg/ha by 2031; production 33 → 46 million bales
- ELS share: 1% → 8%; 1,000 FPOs to be formed; 8 lakh hectares drip irrigation
- Pink bollworm: SIT + pheromone-based pan-state action plan
- Complements PM MITRA Parks (2021) + National Textile Mission
📚 Glossary
- ELS (Extra-Long Staple)
- Cotton with fibre length > 32 mm; used for premium textiles. India is a net importer; Egypt, Sudan and USA dominate exports.
- HDPS (High-Density Planting System)
- Planting cotton at 1.6–2.5 lakh plants per hectare (vs current 80,000) — proven to lift yield 40–50% when paired with shorter-duration Bt hybrids.
- FPO (Farmer Producer Organisation)
- A producer company / collective with farmer-shareholders; eligible for SFAC funding and bulk procurement leverage.
- CCI (Cotton Corporation of India)
- Government-owned enterprise that procures cotton at MSP under the Price Support Scheme; reports to the Ministry of Textiles.
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