**Policy Summary: Impact of Bt Cotton Adoption on Cotton Imports and Exports**
This document summarizes the Indian Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare's response to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 4364, addressed on August 19, 2025, regarding the impact of Bt cotton adoption on India's cotton import/export balance.
The query inquired whether India's cotton import dependence has increased since the adoption of Bt cotton, contrasting with a historical position as a cotton exporter. The Ministry's response clarifies that cotton imports and exports serve as a balancing mechanism to address the differences between domestic cotton supply and the needs of the textile industry, which operates within the global textile market.
Data provided indicates that average cotton imports over the past decade have been approximately 20 lakh bales, representing about 6% of the country's average cotton production. Imports primarily consist of specialized Extra Long Staple (ELS) varieties like Giza, Supima, and Australian cotton, used for value-added textile production or due to back-to-back arrangements between the industry and brands.
Comparative data from the Cotton Corporation of India, Ministry of Textiles, highlights the shift in cotton production, consumption, import, and export figures between the cotton seasons of 2014-15 and 2024-25:
* **2014-15:** Production: 386 lakh bales; Consumption: 309.44 lakh bales; Import: 14.39 lakh bales; Export: 57.72 lakh bales.
* **2024-25 (Estimated):** Production: 294.25 lakh bales; Consumption: 318 lakh bales; Import: 25 lakh bales; Export: 18 lakh bales.
These figures demonstrate that domestic consumption has exceeded production in the 2024-25 cotton season, leading to increased imports and reduced exports. The Ministry states that it lacks substantive data to directly link Bt cotton adoption to an increased dependence on imported cotton.
The response was provided by the Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Shri Ramnath Thakur.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare: A department of the Government of India responsible for agriculture and farmers' welfare.
Lok Sabha: The lower house of the Parliament of India, where the unstarred question was raised.
Shri Dinesh Chandra Yadav: Member of Parliament who raised the unstarred question.
Shri Giridhari Yadav: Member of Parliament who raised the unstarred question.
Shri Ramnath Thakur: The Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare who provided the answer to the question.
BT Cotton: Genetically modified cotton, adoption of which is questioned in the policy text.
Cotton Corporation of India: An organization involved in cotton production and trade in India, referenced in the document.
Ministry of Textiles: A ministry of the Government of India, referenced in the context of the Cotton Corporation of India.
O.I.H.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE & FARMERS WELFARE
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE & FARMERS WELFARE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4364
TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 19TH AUGUST 2025
IMPACT OF ADOPTION OF BT COTTON
4364. Shri Dinesh Chandra Yadav:
Shri Giridhari Yadav:
Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ िष एवं िकसान क(cid:670)ाण मं(cid:361)ी
be pleased to state:
(a) whether it is a fact that ten years ago our country used to export cotton and now
importing the same;
(b) whether it is a fact that ever since the adoption of BT cotton instead of traditional cotton,
our country's dependence on other countries for cotton has increased; and
(c) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
कृ िष एवं िकसान क(cid:670)ाण रा(cid:475) मं(cid:361)ी (SHRI RAMNATH THAKUR)
(a) to (c): Imports and exports are part of a balancing mechanism to address mismatches
between domestic cotton supply and the requirements of the textile industry, which
operates within the global textile market.
During the last 10 years, average import of cotton in India have been about 20 lakh
bales which is about 6% of the average production of cotton in the country. Majority of
imports is to meet specific requirement of either specialized cotton (ELS varieties like Giza,
Supima, Australian cotton for value-added textile production) or back to back
arrangements by the industry with brands.
As per the Cotton Corporation of India, Ministry of Textiles, during cotton season
2014-15, production of cotton was 386 lakh bales, consumption 309.44 lakh bales, import
14.39 lakh bales and export 57.72 lakh bales, whereas in the cotton season 2024-25,
production of cotton is estimated to be 294.25 lakh bales, consumption 318 lakh bales,
import 25 lakh bales and export 18 lakh bales. This indicates that in cotton season 2024-
25, domestic consumption has exceeded production, which is one of the factors driving
higher imports and resulting in a lower export of cotton from India.
There is no substantive data available with this Ministry to indicate that the adoption
of Bt cotton has led to increase in the country’s dependence on imported cotton.
.
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