India today enjoys a unique position in global cotton. It is the second-largest grower and exporter of cotton and is surpassed only by China as a consumer of cotton. It is also one of the significant exporters of cotton yarn and garments. More than 5.8 million farmers cultivate cotton in India and as many as 50 million people are employed, directly or indirectly, by the cotton industry. Government initiatives like the Technology Mission on Cotton and Technology Up-gradation Fund Scheme have improvedthe marketability of the cotton produced, and helped in modernizing and upgrading of the ginning and pressing factories. These initiatives have led to appreciable improvement in the quality of cotton bales, which in turn have proven beneficial for the textile industry. Furthermore, growing disposable incomes have also accelerated domestic consumption, increasing demand within the country as well.
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