**Executive Summary**
The Government facilitates cotton availability for domestic textile and spinning industries through the Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) and Minimum Support Price (MSP) operations. A five-year Mission for Cotton Productivity has been announced in the Union Budget 2025-26 to enhance cotton production. The CCI has expanded its network to ensure effective MSP operations, and has been actively procuring cotton in the 2024-25 and 2025-26 cotton seasons.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Cotton Availability and MSP:**
* The government supports the textile industry by releasing cotton stocks procured by CCI under MSP operations through an online e-auction system.
* MSP for cotton is declared annually to protect farmers' interests when market prices are low.
* **Mission for Cotton Productivity (2025-2026):**
* A five-year mission has been announced in the Union Budget 2025-26.
* The Department of Agricultural Research & Education is the nodal department, partnered by the Ministry of Textiles.
* The mission focuses on improving cotton production through research and extension, including climate-resilient, pest-resistant, and high-yielding varieties.
* **Special Project on Cotton (NFSM):**
* The Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers' Welfare collaborates with the Ministry of Textiles to implement a Special Project on Cotton under NFSM.
* Implemented since 2023-24 through ICAR-CICR, Nagpur, to enhance cotton productivity and quality.
* The project has been extended to 2025-26.
* **CCI Operations:**
* CCI has expanded its network from 508 centres (2024–25) to 571 centres (2025–26) across 150 districts in 11 cotton-growing States.
* Procurement by CCI:
* 2024-25: 100.16 lakh bales valued at Rs. 37,437 crore.
* 2025-26 (as on 05.02.2026): 90.97 lakh bales valued at Rs. 36,355 crore.
* **Cotton Supply and Demand Data (2022-2023 to 2025-2026):**
* Data provided includes opening stock, production, import, total supply, non-MSME consumption, MSME consumption, non-textile consumption, export, total demand, and closing stock.
* Figures are provided in both lakh bales of 170 kg each and thousand tons.
**Impact Analysis**
**Cotton Farmers:**
*Impact:* Benefit from the MSP system, which ensures a fair price for their cotton when market prices are low. The focus on increasing cotton productivity and quality through the Mission for Cotton Productivity and the Special Project on Cotton enhances their income potential.
*Action Required:* Farmers should participate in programs and initiatives aimed at adopting advanced breeding and biotechnology tools to improve yield and quality.
**Domestic Textile and Spinning Industries:**
*Impact:* Gain access to cotton stocks through the e-auction system facilitated by the government, promoting competitive price discovery.
*Action Required:* Actively participate in the e-auction system to secure cotton supplies.
**Cotton Corporation of India (CCI):**
*Impact:* Central nodal agency for cotton procurement and has an expanded network for effective MSP operations.
*Action Required:* Maintain efficient procurement and distribution networks to support the MSP system and ensure cotton availability.
Key Entities Referenced
Cotton Corporation of India (CCI): The central nodal agency for cotton procurement under Minimum Support Price (MSP) operations.
Minimum Support Price (MSP): A price intervention mechanism used to safeguard farmers' interests when market prices fall below the set price, particularly for cotton.
Union Budget 2025-26: The budget where the Mission for Cotton Productivity was announced.
Ministry of Textiles: The government ministry responsible for facilitating availability of cotton to domestic textile industries.
Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers' Welfare: The government ministry implementing a Special Project on Cotton under National Food Security Mission (NFSM).
Ministry of Textiles
AVAILABILITY OF COTTON FOR TEXTILE
SECTOR
Posted On: 13 FEB 2026 1:54PM by PIB Delhi
The Government facilitates availability of cotton to domestic textile and spinning industries through the
release of stocks procured by the Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) under Minimum Support Price (MSP)
operations, which are sold through a transparent online e-auction system enabling competitive price
discovery. MSP for cotton is declared annually to safeguard farmers’ interests when market prices fall
below MSP and to sustain cotton production.
To enhance cotton productivity, quality and farmer incomes, the Government has undertaken multiple
policy and programmatic interventions viz:-
i. A five-year Mission for Cotton Productivity has been announced in the Union Budget 2025-26, with
the Department of Agricultural Research & Education as the nodal department and the Ministry of
Textiles as a partner. The Mission focuses on strengthening cotton production through research and
extension, including development of climate-resilient, pest-resistant and high-yielding varieties,
including ELS cotton, using advanced breeding and biotechnology tools.
ii. The Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare, in convergence with the Ministry of Textiles, has
been implementing a Special Project on Cotton under National Food Security Mission (NFSM)
since 2023-24 through ICAR-CICR, Nagpur, to enhance cotton productivity and quality. An outlay
of ₹41.87 crore in 2023-24 covered 9,175 ha in 8 States, and ₹5,097.88 lakh in 2024-25 covered
about 14,740 ha, achieving yield gains of 40% under HDPS and over 32% under closer spacing.
Based on encouraging outcomes, the project has been extended to 2025-26 with an outlay of
₹6,032.35 lakh (including committed liabilities).
iii. To ensure effective MSP operations, the Cotton Corporation of India (CCI), as the central nodal
agency for cotton procurement, has expanded its network from 508 centres in 2024–25 to 571
centres in 2025–26, covering 150 districts across 11 cotton-growing States. During the 2024-25
cotton season, CCI procured 100.16 lakh bales of cotton valued at Rs. 37,437 crore, while during
2025-26 (as on 05.02.2026), 90.97 lakh bales valued at Rs. 36,355 crore have been procured.
Statement showing production, consumption, and stock position of cotton in the country during the
last three years and current year:Particulars 2022-23 2023-24 2024-25 (P)* 2025-26 (P)*
(In (In (In (In (In (In (In (In
lakh Thousand lakh Thousand lakh Thousand lakh Thousand
bales Tons) bales Tons) bales Tons) bales Tons)
of 170 of 170 of 170 of 170
kg. kg. kg. kg.
Each) Each) Each) Each)
SUPPLY
Opening 39.48 671.16 61.16 1,039.72 47.47 806.99 45.50 773.50
Stock
Production 336.60 5,722.20 325.22 5,528.74 297.24 5,053.08 292.15 4,966.55
Import 14.60 248.20 15.20 258.40 41.40 703.80 40.00 680.00
TOTAL 390.68 6,641.56 401.58 6,826.86 386.11 6,563.87 377.65 6,420.05
SUPPLY
DEMAND
Non-MSME 197.80 3,362.60 216.82 3,685.94 213.04 3,621.68 213.00 3,621.00
Consumption
MSME 99.83 1,697.11 92.93 1,579.81 93.50 1,589.50 93.00 1,581.00
Consumption
Non Textile 16.00 272.00 16.00 272.00 16.00 272.00 16.00 272.00
Consumption
Export 15.89 270.13 28.36 482.12 18.07 307.19 15.00 255.00
TOTAL 329.52 5,601.84 354.11 6,019.87 340.61 5,790.37 337.00 5,729.00
DEMAND
Closing 61.16 1,039.72 47.47 806.99 45.50 773.50 40.65 691.05
Stock.
Source: Meeting of Committee on COCPC held on 08.12.2025
P-Provisional
This information was provided by THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR TEXTILES SHRI PABITRA
MARGHERITA in a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha today.
****MAM/VN
(Rajya Sabha US Q1757)
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