As the world observes World Cotton Day on October 7, Gujarat&rsquo;s fields tell a story of resilience and reinvention. From the days when its cotton yield was barely 139 kg per hectare, the state has woven a remarkable comeback, now producing 71 lakh bales over 23.71 lakh hectares, with productivity soaring to 512 kg lint per hectare, far above the national average.
Agriculture Minister Raghavji Patel calls it &ldquo;a revolution built on grit, science, and vision.&rdquo; Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi&rsquo;s leadership, Gujarat&rsquo;s cotton sector has undergone a complete transformation, expanding both in scale and sophistication. In just two decades, production jumped from 17 lakh bales to 71 lakh, powered by farmer-centric policies, research breakthroughs, and modern technology.
The turnaround began in 1971, when Gujarat&rsquo;s Surat research farm developed Hybrid-4 (Sankar-4), &nbsp;the variety that launched India&rsquo;s hybrid cotton era. That single innovation shifted the country from a cotton importer to a global exporter, earning over ₹17,900 crore in 2020-21 alone.
Today, Gujarat accounts for nearly a quarter of India&rsquo;s total cotton output and leads the development of Bt hybrid varieties, giving farmers higher yields and better incomes. As global demand for natural fibres grows, Gujarat&rsquo;s &ldquo;white gold&rdquo; continues to anchor India&rsquo;s textile strength,&nbsp; a testament to how innovation and leadership can turn a crop into a catalyst for prosperity.
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Gujarat Weaves India’s Cotton Revolution

From scarcity to surplus, Gujarat transforms into the backbone of India’s cotton growth

Gujarat Weaves India’s Cotton Revolution

From scarcity to surplus, Gujarat transforms into the backbone of India’s cotton growth

October 6, 2025 | 21:37 IST