Context:

The Union Finance Minister announced a National Mission for Cotton Productivity in the Union Budget for 2025-26 to improve cotton productivity. 

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• The finance minister allocated ₹500 crore for the Mission for five years in the Union Budget for 2025-26. 
• The 5-year mission aims to “facilitate significant improvements in productivity and sustainability of cotton farming, and promote extra-long staple (ELS) cotton varieties.

ELS Cotton Production in India

ELS cotton refers to cotton varieties with fibre lengths of 30 mm and above.

Most ELS cotton comes from the species Gossypium barbadense, commonly known as Egyptian or Pima cotton.

ELS cotton production is low due to its lower than average per acre yields (7-8 quintals per acre), while the medium staple variety yields 10-12 quintals per acre.

• Brazil boasts an average yield of 20 quintals per acre, while China boasts a yield of 15 quintals.

In India, some ELS cotton is grown along rain-fed parts of Atpadi taluka in Maharashtra’s Sangli district, and around Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu.

• Gossypium hirsutum (Medium staple cotton): It constitutes roughly 96% of the cotton grown in India it falls in the medium staple category, with fibre lengths ranging from 25 to 28 mm.
• It is also known as upland cotton which comprises about 90% of production in the world. 

Cotton

• It is one of the most important fibre and cash crops in India.
• It needs a long frost-free period and, a warm and humid climate. 
• The ideal air temperature for better growth is 70 to 100°F (21-37°C).
• India is the only country that grows all four species of cotton G. Arboreum & G. Herbaceum (Asian cotton), G. Barbadense (Egyptian cotton) and G. Hirsutum (American Upland cotton).
• India is the world’s largest cotton producer (24% of the world's production), cultivating over 11.9 million hectares.
• India got 1st place in the world in cotton acreage with 124.69 lakh hectares area under cotton cultivation i.e. around 39% of world area of 318.8 lakh hectares.
• In terms of productivity, India is at 33rd rank with a yield of 441 kg/ha.
• In 2023-24, India was 1^st in terms of area under production, production-wise: - 2^nd after China, 

• Top cotton-producing states in India: - Gujrat (27.85%) > Maharashtra (24.73%) > Telangana (15.62%).