In an exclusive interview with Bureaucrats India, Lalit Kumar Gupta, Chairman-cum-Managing Director of The Cotton Corporation of India Ltd. (CCI), shares insights from over three decades of hands-on experience in India’s cotton and textile sector. Having served CCI since 1994, Gupta has witnessed - and led - the transformation of cotton procurement, farmer engagement and digital governance. He speaks about CCI’s crucial role in stabilising the cotton economy, empowering farmers, embracing technology, and positioning Indian cotton for global competitiveness.

 Cotton is widely recognised as one of India’s most important commercial crops – often called ‘white gold’. Given India’s position as one of the world’s largest cotton producers and consumers, could you explain in simple terms how CCI’s work strengthens this vital cotton economy and impacts everyday farmers and textile businesses?

Cotton is rightly termed India’s “white gold” because it sustains millions of rural livelihoods, underpins a significant portion of our textile industry, and contributes substantially to exports and foreign exchange earnings. As the Government of India’s designated agency for Minimum Support Price (MSP) operations, the Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) plays a central role in stabilising this critical value chain.

Our mandate is to ensure price assurance for farmers, eliminate distress sales, and provide transparent market access. In the current 2025–26 cotton season, CCI has expanded its procurement footprint to around 570 purchase centres, a significant increase over last year. We have procured approximately 355 lakh quintals of seed cotton so far, reflecting a 17% rise compared to the same period last season.

Digital interventions such as the Kapas Kisan App have enabled over 46 lakh farmers to register and access MSP-related services with greater ease. Farmers can book procurement slots, track transactions and receive timely payments seamlessly. Integrated quality assurance systems, including area-wise farmer mapping, scientific testing, third-party sampling and certification, further strengthen trust in the process.

For industry stakeholders, platforms like CotBiz and independent e-auction systems ensure transparency, real-time price discovery and seamless digital transactions. Together, these initiatives strengthen farmer confidence, streamline procurement and enhance the competitiveness of Indian cotton in both domestic and global markets.

You have been with CCI since 1994 and have seen the organisation evolve over more than three decades. Looking back, what are the biggest transformations in cotton procurement, technology adoption and farmer engagement that you have witnessed?

Over the past three decades, the most visible transformation has been the shift from manual, paper-based and location-bound operations to technology-driven, paperless, transparent and farmer-centric systems.

Today, farmers self-register through the Kapas Kisan App, book procurement slots online, receive SMS alerts at every stage and get 100% payments directly into their Aadhaar-linked bank accounts through NACH. Creating awareness around these initiatives through print, digital media, radio and grassroots outreach has been crucial, resulting in nearly a threefold increase in farmer registrations on the Kapas Kisan platform.

On the processing side, e-tendering of ginning and pressing factories, structured quality audits, blockchain-based traceability systems and the CotBiz application have professionalised operations. These reforms have enabled fully online, transparent and efficient cotton transactions, making CCI more responsive, accountable and trusted by both farmers and industry stakeholders.

 Despite technological and policy advances, cotton cultivation faces challenges such as pest pressures, climatic variability and rising input costs. From a CCI perspective, what are the key interventions needed to boost productivity and resilience for India’s cotton farmers?

Cotton cultivation today faces multiple challenges, including climate stress, pest infestation and rising input costs, which cannot be addressed by MSP operations alone.

Recognising this, the Ministry of Textiles, in coordination with the Ministry of Agriculture, has initiated the Mission on Cotton Productivity (MCP). In the Union Budget 2025–26, the Hon’ble Finance Minister announced a five-year “Mission for Cotton Productivity”.

Aligned with the Hon’ble Prime Minister’s 5F vision for the textile sector, the mission aims to enhance productivity, sustainability and farmer incomes, while ensuring a steady supply of quality cotton to the industry. It follows a mission-mode approach encompassing agronomic practices, seed quality, extension services, technology adoption and resilience-building measures. The proposal is currently under active consideration of the Government of India.

CCI’s procurement operations span diverse regions with varied agro-climatic conditions. How does the Corporation ensure quality standards and transparency across states to build confidence among farmers and buyers alike?

CCI follows uniform national protocols across all cotton-growing states. These include area-wise farmer mapping, scientific quality testing at procurement centres, third-party sampling and stringent grading norms.

Processing is carried out through ginning and pressing factories under strict monitoring. Local Monitoring Committees (LMCs) at market yards ensure transparency and provide on-the-spot grievance redressal. End-to-end traceability is enabled through the blockchain-based BITS platform, which builds confidence among farmers, spinners and even global buyers.

Looking ahead, what are your priorities for CCI in terms of sustainability, cotton quality enhancement and strengthening India’s global competitiveness?

Looking ahead, CCI’s priorities are firmly centred on sustainability, quality enhancement and global competitiveness. Working with farmers is both a responsibility and a sensitive engagement, and ensuring their long-term sustainability remains a core objective.

CCI actively promotes sustainable cotton cultivation and contamination-controlled cotton production, while encouraging farmers to adopt best agricultural practices to enhance productivity. There is also a strong focus on meeting the growing demand for superior-quality cotton, including longer staple varieties.

Simultaneously, CCI is strengthening digital platforms and traceability systems to align Indian cotton with global sourcing, compliance and sustainability standards. By ensuring a reliable and transparent supply of high-quality cotton, CCI aims to reinforce India’s position in international markets while supporting farmer incomes and building confidence among global buyers.

Q: On a personal note, having spent a significant part of your career in public sector leadership, what continues to motivate you, and what message would you like to share with young professionals?

What continues to motivate me is the opportunity to serve millions of farmers and contribute to a sector that impacts rural livelihoods, industry and exports simultaneously. Public service offers a unique sense of purpose.

For young professionals, my message is simple: stay grounded, embrace change, keep learning and place integrity above everything else. Leadership is not about authority; it is about responsibility, consistency and trust.

 A few words for Bureaucrats India and its readers who closely follow governance, public sector leadership and India’s agricultural stories.

Bureaucrats India is much more than a publication; it is a platform that celebrates the spirit of public service, the resilience of institutions and the unsung heroes of governance driving positive change across the country.

I congratulate Bureaucrats India on its journey and wish the team continued success in setting high standards for insightful coverage on governance, leadership and national development.