Executive Summary:
This document presents the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare's response to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1515 regarding cotton import, purchase, and pricing policies. It details cotton imports over the last five years, the role of local traders, cotton purchases from local farmers under the Minimum Support Price (MSP) in Maharashtra, and the unsold stock of the Cotton Corporation of India (CCI). The document also addresses the MSP for cotton crops and import sanctions, with data current as of July 23, 2025.
Key Points / Main Content:
Cotton Imports:
* Data on cotton imports, including year-wise and country-wise details with values for the last five years, is available in Annexure I.
* Local traders independently import cotton without a government mandate to control prices.
Cotton Procurement Under MSP:
* The Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) is the nodal agency for cotton procurement under MSP operations.
* Year-wise and state-wise procurement data under MSP for the last five years is in Annexure II.
* District-wise cotton procurement data in Maharashtra for the last five years is in Annexure III.
* During the cotton season 2024-25, CCI procured 144.55 lakh quintals of kapas (equivalent to 29.41 lakh lint cotton bales) in Maharashtra, valued at approximately Rs. 10,714 crore through 6.27 lakh transactions.
* CCI purchases cotton under MSP when market prices fall below MSP.
CCI Stock:
* Out of 100.16 lakh bales procured under MSP in the 2024-25 cotton season, 70.51 lakh bales were sold through e-auction as of July 23, 2025.
* Unsold stock amounts to 29.65 lakh bales.
Minimum Support Price (MSP):
* The government fixes the MSP of cotton annually, aiming for 1.5 times the cost of production.
* For the 2025-26 cotton season (starting October 1, 2025), the MSP for medium staple cotton has been increased to Rs. 7,710/Qntl and for long staple to Rs. 8,110/Qntl.
Import Restrictions:
* Currently, there is no plan to impose sanctions or restrictions on cotton imports.
Impact Analysis:
Farmers:
* Impact: Farmers in Maharashtra benefit from MSP purchases by CCI when market prices fall below the MSP, ensuring a fair price for their cotton. Increased MSP for the 2025-26 season.
* Action Required: Farmers should be aware of the MSP rates and approach CCI for sales if market prices are lower.
Local Traders:
* Impact: Local traders have the autonomy to import cotton based on market conditions without government intervention for price control.
* Action Required: Continue to monitor market dynamics and import cotton as per their business needs.
Cotton Corporation of India (CCI):
* Impact: CCI is responsible for procuring cotton under MSP operations and managing the stock.
* Action Required: Continue MSP operations, manage unsold stock through e-auctions, and implement the revised MSP for the 2025-26 season.
Government of India:
* Impact: The government ensures fair remuneration to cotton farmers through MSP and monitors cotton imports without imposing restrictions.
* Action Required: Continue setting MSP based on the cost of production and monitor cotton market trends.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare: The Indian government ministry responsible for agriculture and farmers' welfare.
Lok Sabha: The lower house of the Parliament of India, where the unstarred question was raised.
Maharashtra: A state in India, specifically mentioned for district-wise cotton procurement.
Cotton Corporation of India (CCI): The nodal agency under the Ministry of Textiles responsible for cotton procurement under the Minimum Support Price (MSP) operations.
Minimum Support Price (MSP): The price at which the government purchases crops from farmers to protect them from price fluctuations.
Ministry of Textiles: The Indian government ministry that CCI reports to.
BRAZIL: One of the countries from which cotton is imported into India.
USA: One of the countries from which cotton is imported into India.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE & FARMERS WELFARE
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE & FARMERS WELFARE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1515
TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 29TH JULY 2025
IMPORT AND PURCHASE OF COTTON
1515. DR. BACHHAV SHOBHA DINESH:
Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ िष एवं िकसान क(cid:670)ाण मं(cid:361)ी
be pleased to state:
(a) the details of import of cotton into the country, year/country-wise for the last five years,
along with the rate of purchase year and country-wise;
(b) whether cotton is being imported by local traders to control the price of cotton;
(c) the details of purchase of cotton by Government of India from local farmers, along with
rate of purchase for last five years, year/State-wise and district-wise for Maharashtra;
(d) the details of unsold bales in stock of CCI;
(e) whether CCI purchases cotton from farmers in Maharashtra at a Minimum Support
Price (MSP) and if so, the details thereof;
(f) whether the Government intends to increase the MSP of cotton crops within next one
year, if so, the details thereof, State-wise; and
(g) whether the Government plans to impose a sanction on import of cotton in light of the
drop in cotton prices and losses faced by domestic farmers?
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): As per ministry of Textiles, the data regarding import of cotton, year and country-wise
along with the value for the last five years is at Annexure-I.
(b): Local traders import cotton independently and there is no mandate from Government
of India to import cotton to do so and control the prices.
(c): The Cotton Corporation of India (CCI), under the Ministry of Textiles, is the nodal
agency for procurement of cotton under the Minimum Support Price (MSP) operations.The Year-wise/State-wise procurement of cotton under MSP operations during the last five
years is at Annexure-II. Further, a statement indicating district-wise procurement of cotton
under MSP operations in the state of Maharashtra during the last five years is at
Annexure-III.
(d): Out of the total procurement of 100.16 lakh bales under MSP operations during cotton
season 2024-25, 70.51 lakh bales have been sold through e-Auction up to 23.07.2025,
and unsold stock is 29.65 lakh bales.
(e): In the event, market prices of seed cotton (kapas) fall below the MSP prices, CCI
purchases cotton under MSP operations. During cotton season 2024-25, CCI has procured
144.55 lakh quintals kapas (equivalent to 29.41 lakh lint cotton bales) valuing about Rs.
10,714 crore have under MSP operations in Maharashtra through 6.27 lakh transactions
from farmers.
(f): Every year, MSP of cotton is fixed by the Government of India based on the formula of
1.5 times of cost of production to ensure reasonably fair remuneration i.e. at least 50%
over cost of production to farmers.
For the ensuing Cotton Season 2025-26 (commencing from 1st October, 2025),
Government of India has increased the MSP of cotton by upto 8.27 % i.e. MSP for Medium
Staple has been increased to Rs. 7,710/Qntl. and for Long Staple to Rs. 8,110/Qntl, as
compared to Rs. 7,121/Qntl and Rs. 7,521/Qntl respectively during cotton season 2024-
25.
(g): At present, there is no proposal to impose any restriction or sanction on the import of
cotton.Annexure-I
In reply to part (a) of the Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1515 to be answered on
29.07.2025.
Year-wise/Country-wise Import of cotton in the country along with value during the last
5 years
(Quantity in bales/Value in Rs. Crores)
SR. 2019-20 2020-21 2021-22 2022-23 2023-24 2024-25*
COUNTRY
NO.
Quantity Value Quantity Value Quantity Value Quantity Value Quantity Value Quantity Value
1 BRAZIL 130031 254 52228 109 110065 506 75722 227 67805 152 654819 1620
2 USA 577317 1474 430718 1501 773164 4069 457027 2174 268728 1361 525523 1802
3 AUSTRALIA 52475 119 114847 300 394518 1746 445672 1709 358726 1131 513980 1450
4 MALI 48834 100 3221 8 27660 103 5725 20 57180 156 179879 478
5 EGYPT 139533 424 342818 1161 106337 719 218141 853 207729 1028 83681 412
6 COTE D 'IVOIRE 101587 209 7584 17 84255 378 16326 72 61751 176 75906 199
7 ISRAEL 5872 18 26425 80 13972 90 8760 61 10115 62 23049 115
8 TANZANIA 36430 69 2894 9 50844 192 37855 115 107121 288 35074 100
9 BURKINA FASO 3385 7 - - 10951 52 6761 24 17434 52 20044 54
10 GREECE 19906 42 27705 67 27316 111 16888 61 11214 40 8029 28
11 BENIN 3842 7 2933 8 7853 37 146 0.5 1178 3 7807 21
12 SPAIN 11045 23 510 2 384 1 1161 8 10099 30 5821 15
13 SUDAN 5891 12 632 2 11214 43 3834 12 - - 235 0.35
14 OTHER 544195 1084 142350 326 604806 2814 241098 921 408400 1157 1230621 3157
COUNTRIES
Total 1550312 3588 1102637 3480 2113274 10354 1459396 6029 1519675 5483 2709648 7830
Source: DGCIS, Kolkata *Position upto 31st May, 2025Annexure-II
In reply to part (c) of the Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1515 to be answered on
29.07.2025.
Year-wise,/State-wise procurement of cotton under MSP operations during last five years
Qty in Lakh Bales and Value in Rs. Crore
2019-20 2020-21 2023-24 2024-25
Value of Value of
Value of Value of
State Purchases Purchases
Qty Qty Purchases Qty Purchases Qty
under under
under MSP under MSP
MSP MSP
Punjab 3.56 954.04 5.36 1528.78 0.38 128.4 0.02 6.14
Haryana 6.22 1636.5 10.57 2994.21 0.43 143.27 0.62 219.72
Rajasthan 3.76 978.39 9.11 2586.1 0.52 170.17 0.5 181.87
Gujarat 11.05 2972.83 4.15 1204.31 0.91 316.48 14.12 5148.33
Maharashtra 26.25 6897.85 17.51 4980.91 2.44 838.09 29.41 10714.29
MP 4.43 1237.54 4.44 1237.63 1.27 437.38 3.99 1441.09
Telangana 41.8 11687.3 34.01 10167.68 24 8642.22 40.38 15556.95
AP 2.68 647.21 3.42 1039.22 1.3 476 3.83 1478.13
Karnataka 3.5 797.21 1.26 358.81 0.62 215.26 5.22 1892.1
Orissa 1.61 613.06 2.06 621.86 0.95 344.25 2.06 796.9
West Bengal 0 0.07 0 0.2 0 0.77 0 0.92
Tamil Nadu 0.28 78.09 - - 0 0 0 0
CCI Total 105.15 28500.1 91.89 26719.71 32.84 11712.3 100.16 37436.45
MSCCGMFL* 19.46 5054.37 7.44 2102 - - - -
Grand Total 124.61 33554.47 99.33 28821.71 32.84 11712.3 100.16 37436.45
Note: In Cotton Season 2021-22 & 2022-23, cotton prices were ruling above MSP. Hence, no MSP support
required by farmers.
*Maharashtra State Co – Operative Cotton Growers Marketing Federation Ltd
Source: Cotton Corporation of India (CCI)Annexure-III
In reply to part (c) of the Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1515 to be answered on 29.07.2025.
District-wise procurement of cotton under MSP operations in Maharashtra during last five years
2019-20 2020-21
Purchase No of Purchase No of
Sl Value transacti transactio
Branch District Value (Rs.
No Lakh Lakh (Rs. in ons from Lakh Lakh ns from
in Crore)
Qtls bales Crore) Farmers Qtls bales Farmers
in Lakh in Lakh
1 Akola Akola 13.51 2.78 725.87 0.54 7.31 1.39 393.21 0.27
2 Akola Amravati 1.32 0.27 70.86 0.07 1.19 0.23 64.27 0.05
3 Akola Buldhana 12.18 2.46 661.04 0.45 4.61 0.88 251.69 0.16
4 Akola Chandrapur 4.55 0.93 245.26 0.20 5.16 0.98 282.91 0.23
5 Akola Nagpur 2.01 0.41 106.78 0.08 0.54 0.10 30.38 0.02
6 Akola Wardha 12.52 2.55 675.40 0.62 6.12 1.16 336.87 0.29
7 Akola Washim 1.59 0.32 85.90 0.07 0.92 0.17 49.66 0.04
8 Akola Yavatmal 21.54 4.36 1163.41 1.11 13.28 2.53 728.21 0.68
9 Aurangabad Ahemadnagar 1.47 0.30 78.97 0.07 0.95 0.18 50.31 0.04
10 Aurangabad Aurangabad 4.23 0.88 227.94 0.15 3.15 0.60 168.25 0.10
11 Aurangabad Beed 3.50 0.72 186.55 0.12 5.21 0.99 277.38 0.15
12 Aurangabad Dhule 4.21 0.87 225.62 0.14 2.25 0.43 122.88 0.06
13 Aurangabad Hingoli 2.68 0.55 144.54 0.12 2.20 0.42 119.48 0.09
14 Aurangabad Jalgaon 8.32 1.71 449.65 0.28 8.64 1.65 466.19 0.27
15 Aurangabad Jalna 12.02 2.49 642.55 0.43 10.61 2.02 569.76 0.37
16 Aurangabad Nanded 5.17 1.07 276.98 0.23 3.20 0.61 170.63 0.14
17 Aurangabad Nandurbar 4.27 0.88 229.58 0.16 2.89 0.55 156.12 0.11
18 Aurangabad Parbhani 13.03 2.69 700.95 0.56 13.76 2.62 742.72 0.53
T otal 128.12 26.25 6897.85 5.41 91.98 17.52 4980.91 3.60
Sl Branch District 2023-24 2024-25
No Purchase No of Purchase No of
Value transacti transactio
Value (Rs.
Lakh Lakh (Rs. in ons from Lakh Lakh ns from
in Crore)
Qtls bales Crore) Farmers Qtls bales Farmers
in Lakh in Lakh
1 Akola Akola 3.10 0.62 213.91 0.11 22.69 4.54 1653.22 0.84
2 Akola Amravati 0.53 0.11 36.48 0.03 13.51 2.70 973.22 0.57
3 Akola Buldhana 1.04 0.21 71.96 0.04 9.08 1.82 663.09 0.34
4 Akola Chandrapur 1.10 0.22 75.19 0.04 12.11 2.42 886.64 0.56
5 Akola Nagpur 0.36 0.07 25.35 0.02 1.53 0.31 114.28 0.07
6 Akola Wardha 0.38 0.08 26.06 0.02 8.43 1.69 617.38 0.44
7 Akola Washim 0.39 0.08 27.38 0.02 1.50 0.30 111.28 0.07
8 Akola Yavatmal 1.04 0.21 71.79 0.05 21.39 4.28 1565.83 1.10
9 Akola Gadchiroli - - - - 0.25 0.05 18.24 0.01
10 Aurangabad Ahemadnagar 0.01 0.00 0.38 0.00 2.98 0.60 217.50 0.15
11 Aurangabad Aurangabad 0.07 0.01 4.83 0.00 7.29 1.46 531.34 0.27
12 Aurangabad Beed 0.05 0.01 3.18 0.00 6.94 1.39 500.62 0.27
13 Aurangabad Dhule 0.26 0.05 17.47 0.01 3.82 0.76 277.50 0.13
14 Aurangabad Hingoli 0.06 0.01 3.76 0.00 1.83 0.37 134.47 0.10
15 Aurangabad Jalgaon 0.83 0.17 57.02 0.03 4.79 0.96 347.63 0.17
16 Aurangabad Jalna 1.48 0.30 101.27 0.05 8.89 1.78 645.89 0.30
17 Aurangabad Nanded 0.74 0.15 50.25 0.04 2.95 0.59 215.37 0.15
18 Aurangabad Nandurbar 0.04 0.01 2.72 0.00 3.07 0.61 222.44 0.14
19 Aurangabad Parbhani 0.72 0.14 49.08 0.03 14.00 2.80 1018.34 0.59
Total 12.20 2.44 838.09 0.50 147.06 29.41 10714.29 6.27
Note: In Cotton Season 2021-22 & 2022-23, cotton prices were ruling above MSP. Hence, no MSP support required by
farmers.
Source: Cotton Corporation of India (CCI)
*****