Union Minister of Textiles Giriraj Singh on Tuesday (October 7, 2025) said the government’s vision goes beyond expanding exports and textile markets, aiming to make India’s textile sector carbon-neutral by 2030. Speaking at the World Cotton Day 2025 celebrations in New Delhi, he highlighted the government’s goal of achieving a USD 350 billion textile industry, including USD 100 billion in exports, with sustainability at the heart of this growth.
The event, themed “Cotton 2040: Technology, Climate & Competitiveness,” was organized jointly by the Ministry of Textiles and the Confederation of Indian Textile Industry (CITI). Singh, along with Union Minister of State for Textiles and External Affairs Pabitra Margherita, addressed key stakeholders across the cotton and textile value chain.
Calling cotton, the “soul of Indian agriculture,” Singh said it reflects the sweat, resilience, and hope of farmers. “Every thread of cotton carries the story of our farmers, their hard work under the scorching sun and their unwavering faith in the soil,” he said, extending greetings to cotton farmers on the occasion.
The minister stressed the urgent need to tackle challenges posed by climate change and called for judicious use of water, energy, and natural resources. He noted that while India accounts for 40% of the world’s cotton area, productivity remains low at around 450 kg per hectare compared to 2,000 kg in other countries. The proposed Mission for Cotton Productivity aims to address this gap and strengthen farmer welfare. Singh also highlighted that consistent increases in the Minimum Support Price (MSP) over the past decade reflect the government’s commitment to supporting farmers.
He urged all stakeholders, ginners, spinners, brands, and exporters, to “connect emotionally with farmers” and make Kasturi Cotton Bharat a globally recognized benchmark for purity and sustainability, on par with Egyptian Giza and American Supima cotton. “The world is moving toward eco-friendly products, and our farmers can show the path ahead,” he said.
Minister of State Pabitra Margherita emphasized that India must aim for leadership in quality, sustainability, and ethical production. He added that the Kasturi Cotton initiative will contribute significantly to the government’s ‘5F’ (farm–fibre–factory–fashion–foreign) vision and hinted at enhancing textile cooperation with Russia.
Textiles Secretary Neelam Shami Rao highlighted that India’s cotton sector supports six million farmers and provides employment to over 45 million people. She stressed that the future lies in technology-driven transformation, including digital traceability, high-density planting, and modernization of ginning infrastructure, to enhance quality, productivity, and sustainability.
The event concluded with the signing of multiple MoUs under the Kasturi Cotton Bharat initiative with leading organizations, aimed at boosting sustainable cotton production and strengthening India’s global cotton footprint.
