India needs to improve its cotton productivity drastically if it is to remain a net cotton exporter. The country’s cotton yield has not increased during the last few years. As against the world average of over 770 kg per hectare, productivity of cotton in India is about 500 kg per hectare.

Since there is hardly any scope for further increase in the acreage under cotton in India, the only way to match the increasing consumption of cotton domestically is to increase productivity.

The day is not far off when consumption of cotton in India will surpass production, and India, which is today a net cotton exporter, will become a net cotton importer.

Cotton is an important cash crop in India, which provides employment to over 60 million farmers and others connected with production, processing and marketing.

India is world leader in terms of the acreage under cotton. Over one-third of the total cotton acreage in the world is in India. India is the largest cotton producer, the second largest exporter next only to US and the second largest consumer next only to China.

India’s huge textile industry is mainly cotton based and there is a huge opportunity of value addition.