Expressing serious concern over India's growing dependence on cotton imports, eminent agricultural scientist and Padma Bhushan awardee Dr R.S. Paroda today called for urgent technology and policy reforms to restore the country's global competitiveness in cotton production. He described the current situation as a significant setback for Indian cotton farmers and industry, noting that while cotton producing countries worldwide have rapidly adopted newer agricultural technologies and innovations, Indian cotton farmers have been deprived of the same GM technology for more than two decades. Dr. Paroda stressed that this prolonged technological stagnation has adversely affected productivity, competitiveness, and farmers' incomes, underscoring the need for a transparent, science-based regulatory framework. "India's cotton sector has been steadily losing its global leadership over the last few years.