New Delhi, Feb. 4 -- The Union Budget has unveiled a five-year Cotton Mission aimed to increase cotton productivity, particularly among extra-long staple varieties, leveraging Science and Technology support for farmers, ensuring that the cotton-growing community benefits from modern techniques to boost yield.

According to the Ministry of Textiles, this initiative aligns with the 5 F principle--Farm to Fibre, Fibre to Factory, Factory to Fashion, Fashion to Foreign--and will help increase the income of farmers, ensure a steady supply of quality cotton, and ultimately contribute to the global competitiveness of India's textile sector.

This mission is expected to significantly reduce India's dependence on cotton imports, stabilise raw mate...