Bangladesh targets production of 1.9 mn cotton bales by 2050

Bangladesh has set a long-range plan to lift domestic cotton lint production to 1.9 million bales by 2050, positioning the crop as a strategic raw material for reducing import dependence across the country’s textile and apparel supply chain.Under the government roadmap, cotton lint output is planned to rise first to 500,000 bales by 2030. As per data from the Cotton Development Board (CDB), Bangladesh’s current annual production is more than 224,000 bales, equivalent to about 16-17 per cent of the domestic textile sector’s requirement.

Bangladesh has set a 2050 roadmap to raise cotton lint output to 1.9 million bales, with an interim 500,000-bale target for 2030.
The plan targets lower import reliance for textile mills and export-oriented garment supply chains that need about 9 million bales a year.
Farmer incentives, hybrid varieties, more acreage and credit support are central to delivery.

The target would be pursued through hybrid cotton varieties, wider cultivation and continuing incentives for farmers. The country has scope to raise output by using suitable land and improving yields through modern farming technologies.

Cotton is now grown on about 45,000 hectares, while nearly 200,000 hectares could potentially be brought under the crop, the CDB data mentioned.

The expansion plan focuses on char lands, the Barind tract of Rajshahi and suitable plain land in hilly areas that are not well suited to food crops. This approach is intended to raise cotton output without affecting food security.

At present, the supply-chain gap remains large. Bangladesh’s export-oriented readymade garment industry requires about 9 million bales of raw cotton every year, while the country imports an estimated 7.5-8 million bales annually, and is among the world’s largest cotton importers. In fiscal 2025-26, Bangladesh imported about 7.3 million bales of raw cotton at a cost of nearly Tk 450 billion.

Therefore, achieving the 500,000-bale target by 2030 could by itself reduce import dependence and save nearly Tk 8 billion a year in foreign exchange. The government’s measures include incentives for cotton growers, bringing farmers into the farmers’ card programme and extending credit support through carbon trading initiatives.

Bangladesh currently ranks 40th among cotton-producing countries, while India, China, the US, Pakistan and Brazil dominate global output.

In Bangladesh, cotton is generally sown from mid-June and harvested in December. CDB scientists said genetically modified cotton varieties, improved seed technology and better farming practices could significantly increase productivity. They also said more than 32 districts, especially in the southern, western, northern and central regions, have favourable conditions for upland and hill cotton.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk