New Delhi, May 10 -- The Centre has approved a Rs.5,659 crore Cotton Productivity Mission (Kapas Kanti) over five years to revive India's cotton economy at a time when output has stagnated, imports are rising and textile exporters face intensifying global competition.

The mission marks one of the most ambitious interventions in India's cotton-textile value chain in recent years, linking farm productivity to manufacturing competitiveness and export growth.

Mint explains how the scheme seeks to lift yields, improve fibre quality and strengthen India's textile export competitiveness.

The programme seeks to address multiple structural weaknesses at once-low farm productivity, inconsistent fibre quality, volatile raw material supply and ris...