Overview

• At a World Cotton Day event in New Delhi, Textiles Minister Giriraj Singh urged industry to work directly with farmers to improve seed quality and raise yields, warning that unseasonal rains threaten productivity.
• An MoU to promote Kasturi Cotton Bharat globally was signed, with additional agreements involving Arvind Ltd., Nitin Spinners, and the Noida Apparel Export Cluster to support the branding drive.
• Textiles Secretary Neelam Shami Rao said the ministry is working to lift cotton production by about 50% over the next few years and to expand Kasturi Cotton Bharat’s capacity.
• The government outlined export outreach to 40 countries after reporting a strong response at a recent textiles exhibition in Russia.
• Singh said a Mission for Cotton Productivity is under active consideration and emphasized sustainability, including plans to curb linen imports and promote milkweed, ramie, and flax, while noting MSP increases for farmer welfare.