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Bangladesh has adopted a long-term strategy to increase domestic cotton lint production to 1.9 million bales by 2050, aiming to reduce its heavy reliance on imports and strengthen the country’s textile and apparel supply chain.
According to the Cotton Development Board (CDB), Bangladesh currently produces more than 224,000 bales of cotton lint annually, meeting only 16-17 percent of domestic demand. Under the new roadmap, production is targeted to reach 500,000 bales by 2030 before rising to 1.9 million bales by 2050.
The country’s export-oriented textile and garment industry consumes about 9 million bales of cotton each year, forcing Bangladesh to import 7.5-8 million bales annually. In fiscal year 2025-26, the country imported around 7.3 million bales of raw cotton worth nearly Tk45,000 crore.
The CDB estimates that raising domestic production to 500,000 bales by 2030 could save around Tk800 crore in foreign exchange every year by reducing import dependence.
The roadmap emphasizes the introduction of hybrid cotton varieties, expansion of cultivation areas and continued incentives for farmers. Cotton is currently cultivated on around 45,000 hectares, although the CDB estimates that nearly 200,000 hectares are suitable for cotton farming.
The government plans to expand cultivation primarily in char lands, the Barind region and suitable plain areas of hilly districts where food crop production is relatively limited. Officials said the strategy is designed to boost cotton output without compromising food security.
To support the initiative, the government has allocated Tk20 crore for cotton cultivation incentives in fiscal year 2026-27. Around 25,000 marginal farmers across 26 districts will receive quality seeds, fertilizers and pesticides to grow cotton as an intercrop on one bigha of land.
Authorities are also bringing cotton growers under the farmer card programme while exploring credit support through carbon trading initiatives to encourage wider adoption of cotton cultivation.
According to Md Rezaul Amin, Executive Director of the CDB, cultivating cotton on one bigha of land costs around Tk15,000, while farmers can earn nearly Tk60,000 by harvesting about 15 maunds of raw cotton. He added that every kilogram of locally produced cotton saves about $4 in import costs.
Scientists at the CDB said Bangladesh’s climate is suitable for cotton cultivation in more than 32 districts. They noted that introducing genetically modified cotton varieties could further improve productivity, increase farmers’ incomes and help reduce the country’s dependence on imported cotton.