Cotton is woven into India’s history. This fibre has clothed the nation, had become a symbol of self-reliance through Khadi during India’s freedom movement.
Today, India stands among the world’s leading producers, consumers and exporters of cotton. Over 8 million farmers cultivate it, and about 40–50 million people depend on it across trade, processing, and allied sectors. The textile industry contributes about 14% to industrial production, about 4% to GDP, and more than 14% to export earnings.
However, the story is unfinished. Yields lag far behind global benchmarks. India has one of the lowest per hectare yields. This is due to factors like small landholdings, erratic rainfall, and limited access to modern agri-practices. Parallely, cotton is also losing share to man-made fibres.
This is where COTAAP steps in.
Cotton: A Story Woven into India
Who We Are
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.
How We Power the Cotton Ecosystem
Our work is anchored in two key areas:
- Cotton Agronomics
Supporting farmers with better practices, knowledge, and resources.
We partner with farmers to boost productivity and profits through modern techniques, farmer networks, essential inputs, and field support—addressing low yields per hectare.
- Cotton Promotion
Strengthening demand by building awareness and inspiring consumers to choose natural fibre cotton.
Our Generic Cotton Promotion Program runs multi-platform campaigns highlighting cotton’s comfort, sustainability, and versatility. This builds consumer demand and improves farmer outcomes.