Building a Global Identity for Indian Cotton Through Quality and Traceability

Kasturi Cotton Bharat could help strengthen the global positioning of Indian cotton through quality standards, traceability and responsible production

India is among the world’s largest cotton producers, accounting for nearly 20% of global cotton production and supporting more than six million cotton farmers. However, according to Ms. Dipali Goenka, MD & CEO, Welspun Living Limited, production scale alone is not enough to strengthen India’s position in global cotton markets.

In her view, the larger opportunity is to establish Indian cotton as a product associated with consistent quality, traceability, responsible production and reliability. She identifies Kasturi Cotton Bharat as a programme that could contribute to this transition.

Traceability Gaining Importance in Global Sourcing

Global sourcing practices are changing as brands seek greater visibility across their supply chains. Traceability, according to Goenka, is increasingly becoming an expectation rather than simply a differentiating factor, while regulatory and sustainability requirements are increasing the importance of credible information on origin and production practices.

For Indian cotton, this creates an opportunity to move beyond its position as a large-volume source and develop a more differentiated proposition in international markets.

Kasturi Cotton Bharat combines defined quality parameters with QR-based certification and blockchain-enabled traceability. As of June 30, 2026, 3,29,550 bales had been certified, while 116 units, including ginners and other supply-chain participants, had renewed their registration.

Goenka said the next stage for the programme would need to focus on scale, adoption and market demand.

From Certification to Commercial Value

According to Goenka, certification can create commercial value when buyers actively seek certified cotton, manufacturers can incorporate it into their supply chains efficiently, and farmers have an economic incentive to participate.

She identifies several areas that could support this process.

The first is greater consistency at the farm and gin level. Quality, she notes, needs to be developed throughout the production process through agronomic practices, contamination control, scientific picking and storage, efficient ginning and consistent testing.

The second area is the scalability of traceability systems. Digital platforms could connect information across farmers, ginners, spinners, manufacturers and brands, creating a digital chain of custody that follows the fibre from its origin through to the finished product.

The third is developing stronger international demand for differentiated Indian cotton. This would involve engagement with global retailers and brands supported by measurable information on quality, provenance and responsible production.

The fourth is ensuring that the additional value generated through differentiation reaches participants across the supply chain. If improved quality and verified production practices generate higher market value, farmers and other participants contributing to those improvements should have an opportunity to benefit.

Technology Could Reshape the Cotton Value Chain

Goenka also points to technology as a potential driver of change across the cotton ecosystem over the coming decade.

Farm-level data, satellite imagery, AI-enabled crop advisory, digital quality testing and traceability platforms could support productivity improvements, more efficient use of water and agricultural inputs, earlier identification of risks and greater visibility for buyers.

Under this model, a bale of cotton could increasingly carry a digital identity containing information about its origin, quality parameters and movement through the value chain.

India has the scale to develop such an ecosystem, although Goenka notes that the technologies would need to be interoperable, accessible and commercially viable across millions of farms and thousands of supply-chain participants.

Welspun’s Experience with Responsible Sourcing

Goenka cites Welspun Living’s experience as an example of how responsible sourcing and traceability can be integrated into the value chain.

Through Wel-Krishi, the company’s sustainable cotton cultivation programme, the company works with farming communities on responsible agricultural practices, resource efficiency and farm-level outcomes. Its engagement with Better Cotton is another component of its responsible sourcing approach.

Welspun has also invested in traceability through Wel-Trak®, a blockchain-enabled platform designed to provide visibility across the journey from farm to finished product.

According to Goenka, this experience has demonstrated the importance of converting complex supply-chain information into credible and usable data for customers.

She believes Kasturi Cotton Bharat could apply a similar principle at a larger national scale.

Moving From Volume to Value

India exported ₹3,25,339 crore worth of textiles and apparel, including handicrafts, in FY2025–26. The country already has a large textile manufacturing base, an extensive cotton ecosystem and established relationships with major international markets.

For Goenka, the next stage is increasing value creation from this existing ecosystem.

She describes a potential future in which global brands specify Indian cotton based on predictable quality parameters, verifiable origin and production credentials supported by data. Such a system could also give farmers greater visibility into the value of their cotton and create opportunities to benefit from measurable improvements in quality and responsible practices.

Achieving this would require coordination among government, farmers, ginners, spinners, manufacturers, exporters, technology providers and global brands. Government could provide standards and enabling infrastructure, while industry could contribute technology, scale and market access. Global buyers could contribute by creating demand for differentiated Indian cotton.

Measuring the Impact of Kasturi Cotton Bharat

According to Goenka, the success of Kasturi Cotton Bharat should ultimately be measured through more than the number of certified bales.

Potential indicators include buyer adoption, farmer participation, quality consistency, traceability coverage and the additional value generated by Indian cotton in global markets.

India already has one of the world’s largest cotton and textile ecosystems. The opportunity ahead, she argues, is to strengthen its position as one of the world’s most trusted cotton and textile sources.

For Indian cotton, this would represent a shift from scale to value and from provenance to verifiable proof, supporting the development of a more globally recognised identity.