Cotton has been woven into the fabric of India’s history — from clothing a nation to symbolizing self-reliance during the freedom movement through Khadi. Today, India stands as the world’s largest producer and exporter of cotton, with over 8 million farmers involved in cotton cultivation, and over 40 – 50 million people involved on its trade, cultivation, and processing. The textile sector alone contributes 14% to industrial production, 4% to GDP, and over 14% to export earnings.
Yet, despite its scale, India’s cotton yield remains among the lowest globally. Small landholdings, erratic rainfall, and limited access to modern farming practices continue to challenge millions of cotton farmers. At the same time, natural cotton is fast losing ground to synthetic fibers.
This is where COTAAP – Cotton And Allied Products Research Foundation steps in — championing cotton through two core missions:
Cotton Agronomics:
Supporting farmers with better practices, knowledge, and resources
Cotton Promotion:
Inspiring consumers to choose natural fiber cotton through engaging awareness campaigns.
At COTAAP Research Foundation, cotton is more than just a crop — it’s a source of livelihood, progress, and possibility for millions of Indian farmers. Since 1987, we’ve been working to strengthen India’s cotton value chain with one clear goal: to ensure a more sustainable, productive, and globally competitive cotton industry. As a not-for-profit organization, our mission is rooted in creating real, lasting impact for those who depend on cotton.
Our work is anchored in two key areas:
We work hand-in-hand with cotton farmers to improve productivity and profitability. By introducing modern farming techniques, building farmer networks, and offering essential inputs and field-level support, we help tackle one of Indian cotton’s biggest challenges — low yields per hectare. Our approach is practical, on-ground execution based, and focused on long-term impact.
Through our Generic Cotton Promotion Program, we advocate for the value of natural fibre cotton. Our awareness campaigns, run across multiple platforms, highlight the many benefits of cotton — comfort, sustainability, and versatility — to ensure it remains a fibre of choice. By growing consumer demand, we help create higher demand and better outcomes for cotton farmers.