Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Govt. of India has approved a special project on cotton entitled ‘Targeting technologies to agro-ecological zones- large scale demonstrations of best practices to enhance cotton productivity’ under National Food Security Mission (NFSM) for implementation during 2023-24. The project is being implemented through ICAR-Central Institute of Cotton Research (CICR), Nagpur on PPP mode in the identified clusters through value chain approach by collaboration with Ministry of Textiles, CITI & SIMA; Seed Industry Associations (NSAI and FSII); Extension partners (Cotton Development and Research Associations of CITI and SIMA); Agricultural Technology Application Research Institutes (ICAR-ATARIs) & their Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs); State Departments of Agriculture-ATMA, Textile partners and Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) to increase productivity of cotton and production of Extra Long Staple (ELS) cotton.

The Pilot Project comprises of three technologies namely High Density Planting System (HDPS), Closer Spacing planting system and Production technology for ELS cotton.

The assistance under the project is to be provided to marginal & small farmers through DBT besides geo-referencing of project sites.