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GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
RAJYA SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. - 2440
TO BE ANSWERED ON 13/03/2026
LOWER YIELDING OF COTTON AND REGISTRATION OF COTTON FARMERS
IN COTT-ALLY PLATFORM
2440. SMT. SAGARIKA GHOSE:
Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE be pleased to state:
(a) the current per-hectare yield of cotton in India and how it compares with the yields of other
leading cotton-producing countries;
(b) whether India’s cotton yield is comparatively lower, if so, the key factors responsible for such
lower productivity;
(c) the details of the Maximum Sale Price fixed for Bt-Cotton seed packets during each of the
last three years including the current year;
(d) the total number of cotton farmers eligible for registration on the Cott-ally platform; and
(e) the number of eligible farmers who have actually registered on the platform so far?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
(SHRI BHAGIRATH CHOUDHARY)
(a) & (b): During 2024-25, the yield of cotton in the country is estimated at 440 kg/hectare.
As per International Cotton Advisory Committee (ICAC), the global cotton productivity (2024)
is estimated at 834 kg per hectare. The yield levels in other major cotton-producing countries are
higher compared to India, such as China (2125 kg lint/ha), Brazil (1845 kg lint/ha), and the USA
(888 kg lint/ha).
In India, 67 % area is under rainfed conditions which is facing increasing frequency of
extreme weather events especially rainfall (deficit/excess and untimely). Cotton productivity in
India has also declined due to the breakdown in resistance to available Cry proteins in Bt cotton
against pink bollworm, leading to its widespread incidence in major cotton-growing states.
Continuous monocropping of cotton has also adversely affected soil health. In addition, severe
pest and disease outbreaks such as whitefly infestation and cotton leaf curl virus in the northern
zone (Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan), along with boll rot and Tobacco Streak Virus in the
central and southern zones, have significantly reduced yields. The emergence of secondary pests
like cotton stem weevil and tea mosquito bug has added to the problem. Other factors include the
cultivation of long-duration hybrids with low harvest index and low ginning out-turn, presence
of spurious and low-quality seeds, and the increasing area under unregulated Bt events.
Moreover, limited irrigation during peak sowing, shallow and compacted soils, wider crop
spacing, and the shifting of farmers to alternative crops have negatively impacted cotton
production.With an aim for enhancing production and productivity, the Government of India is
implementing cotton development programme under National Food Security & Nutrition
Mission (NFSNM) in 15 major cotton growing states from 2014-15. Also, a special project on
cotton titled 'Targeting technologies to agro-ecological zones- large scale demonstrations of best
practices to enhance cotton productivity' is being implemented by ICAR- Central Institute of
Cotton Research (CICR), Nagpur in major cotton growing states under NFSNM from 2023-24
to enhance productivity of cotton. Further, the “Mission for Cotton productivity” has been
announced by the Hon'ble Union Finance Minister in the Budget Speech of 2025. This five-year
mission has been envisaged to facilitate significant improvements in productivity and
sustainability of cotton farming and promote extra-long staple cotton varieties.
(c) : The details of the Maximum Sale Price fixed for Bt-Cotton seed packets during years 2022
to 2025 are given as under:
Price of Bt-Cotton per 450 gram packet (Amount in Rs.)
Year
BG-I BG-II
2022 635 810
2023 635 853
2024 635 864
2025 635 901
(d) & (e): The Cott-Ally mobile app was freely available to all users, including cotton farmers,
on the Google Play Store and iOS platforms, in nine regional languages. The application was
designed to keep cotton farmers informed and updated about variety-wise MSP rates, nearby
procurement centres under Minimum Support Price (MSP) operations, and to provide a platform
for accessing payment status and communicating directly with the Cotton Corporation of India
Limited (CCI). However, the application was not intended for registration of cotton farmers for
selling their cotton under MSP operations. For this purpose, with effect from 1st September 2025,
a new mobile application, Kapas Kisan, has been launched by CCI to empower cotton farmers.
Under MSP operations, the sale of cotton by farmers has been mandated through this application
only. Through the app, farmers can avail facilities such as self-registration and slot booking for
selling their cotton under MSP on a four-week rolling basis, thereby enhancing flexibility,
reducing waiting time, and preventing congestion at procurement centres. Accordingly, CCI has
been procuring cotton only through slot booking via the Kapas Kisan app. So far, about 42 lakh
cotton farmers have been registered on Kapas Kisan Mobile app.
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