Cotton may seem like an everyday fabric, but for millions of farmers across India, it represents both hope and hardship. As one of the world’s top producers, India must reckon with extreme weather, pest outbreaks and uneven market forces that threaten yields and livelihoods. Welspun Living is one of the largest stakeholders in the cotton textile industry in India. At Welspun Living, we know these challenges firsthand because we work alongside farming communities every day. In this article, we examine the current state of India’s cotton sector, explore practical steps toward sustainability and explain how our partnership with the Better Cotton Initiative is helping to turn the tide.
Indian cotton fields cover more than 12 million hectares, sustaining over six million smallholder families. Maharashtra and Gujarat lead production, but pockets of cultivation exist in states from Punjab to Andhra Pradesh. Many growers work plots smaller than two hectares, relying on seasonal monsoon rains to water their crops. When rains arrive late or not at all, irrigation wells run dry and seedlings wither. On the other hand, sudden downpours can flood fields and wash away young plants. Aboveground challenges compound these risks. Bollworms and whiteflies attack the bolls at critical growth stages, forcing farmers to spray heavy doses of chemical insecticides that add cost and erode local biodiversity. Credit is often expensive or unavailable, leaving growers vulnerable to middlemen who demand steep rates. Fluctuating international cotton prices then deliver the final blow – one bad season can erase a year’s income in a matter of weeks.
The path forward lies in farming methods that protect natural resources and strengthen community resilience. Organic cotton cultivation avoids synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, instead using compost, green manures and neem-based biopesticides. Integrated Pest Management, where farmers scout fields for signs of infestation and apply targeted biological controls cuts pesticide use by up to 70 percent. Water-saving practices such as drip irrigation and rainwater harvesting help producers reduce water consumption by nearly half. Crop rotation and cover cropping revive soil health, increase water infiltration and break cycles of disease.
In India, Better Cotton Initiative (BCI) collaborates with various partners to promote sustainable cotton farming practices. These practices include reducing pesticide use, conserving water, and enhancing soil health. Through training and support, BCI helps Indian cotton farmers adopt more sustainable methods, leading to improved livelihoods and environmental outcomes.
Welspun Living is one of the biggest textile companies in India and is one of 14 partners of the Better Cotton Initiative, an organization that actively works to promote organic cotton farming and sustainable cotton sourcing practices for manufacturers. In Maharashtra we run farmer field schools where participants learn to prepare organic compost, test soil pH and rotate cotton with legumes. Through our traceability system, every bale of Better Cotton is tagged from ginning to shipping, assuring retailers and consumers that their textiles uphold ethical standards. We also partner with local agricultural universities to fine-tune techniques for each microclimate. Over the past two years, our combined efforts have cut average pesticide use by 20 percent and water use by 30 percent across our supply regions.
India’s cotton sector stands at a defining moment. Without change, smallholder farms will continue to struggle against nature’s extremes and unstable markets. Yet by adopting sustainable farming practices and forging genuine industry partnerships, we can restore balance to the fields and prosperity to rural communities. Welspun Living, as one of the most revered textile companies in India, remains committed to this vision, working side by side with farmers to prove that sustainability and profitability go hand in hand. When growers thrive, the entire value chain—from textile mills to consumers—benefits. Together, we can ensure that India’s cotton threads remain strong, resilient and ready to weave the future.
