Govt boosts cotton farming support

The government has increased financial support for cotton cultivation, allocating Tk 20 crore in the 2026-27 fiscal year to boost domestic production and reduce dependence on costly imports.

Under the programme, the Cotton Development Board (CDB) will provide agricultural inputs to around 25,000 marginal farmers across 26 districts, enabling cotton cultivation on one bigha of land as an intercrop.

Officials said each beneficiary will receive seeds, fertilizers, pesticides and growth regulators worth about Tk 8,000 as part of the ongoing incentive scheme aimed at expanding cotton farming for the third consecutive year.

CDB experts said the initiative not only helps farmers earn higher profits but also strengthens the national economy by saving foreign currency spent on cotton imports.

They noted that while Bangladesh imports millions of bales annually for its textile industry, domestic production still meets only a small fraction of demand, making expansion of local cultivation a priority.

Agriculture officials added that cotton farming is proving profitable, with low production costs and significantly higher returns per bigha, while also improving soil health compared to some alternative crops.

The government said distribution of inputs will begin next month through district-level agriculture offices, targeting key cotton-growing regions across the country.