**Executive Summary:**
This document summarizes the Indian government's support for cotton farmers in Maharashtra, addressing issues like pest attacks, low market prices, and rising input costs. It details various government schemes and initiatives aimed at enhancing cotton productivity, providing financial assistance, and ensuring fair prices through Minimum Support Price (MSP) mechanisms. The Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) plays a crucial role in procurement and support operations.
**Key Points / Main Content:**
* **Cotton Production in Maharashtra:**
* Cotton production in Maharashtra over the last three years (in lakh bales of 170 Kg each): 2022-23 (83.16), 2023-24 (80.45), 2024-25 (92.32 - Advance Estimates).
* **Government Support Initiatives:**
* The government supports cotton farmers in Maharashtra and other states through various schemes to address pest attacks, low market prices, and rising input costs, while promoting technological solutions.
* A five-year Mission for Cotton Productivity was announced in the 2025-26 budget to enhance cotton productivity and strengthen the textile value chain, focusing on climate-smart, pest-resistant, high-yielding varieties.
* The Cotton Development Programme under the National Food Security and Nutrition Mission (NFSNM) is implemented in 15 major cotton-growing states, including Maharashtra, since 2014-15.
* A Special Project by ICAR-CICR, Nagpur, is implemented in Maharashtra and seven other states under NFSNM (2023-24 and 2024-25) to enhance cotton productivity.
* **Minimum Support Price (MSP) and Procurement:**
* The government fixes MSPs to provide remunerative prices to cotton farmers, ensuring at least a 50% margin over production costs.
* The Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) safeguards farmers' interests by opening procurement centers to implement MSP.
* CCI opened 128 procurement centers across 19 districts in Maharashtra (including 11 in Jalgaon and 15 in Yavatmal), procuring 144.55 lakh quintals of kapas cotton valued at ₹10,714 crores.
* **Technology and Infrastructure Support:**
* The government assists APMCs in developing infrastructure through schemes like eNAM, AMI, and AIF.
* 133 APMC markets in Maharashtra are integrated with the eNAM platform.
* Space technology is utilized for projects like FASAL (area and yield forecasting) and drought monitoring.
* Krishi DSS, a cloud-based Geospatial platform, leverages space technology for agricultural management and decision-making.
* **Insurance and Financial Assistance:**
* Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) provides risk insurance against crop damage.
* Modified Interest Subvention Scheme (MISS) provides short-term agricultural loans at concessional interest rates through Kisan Credit Cards (KCC).
* **MSP Enhancement and Procurement Measures:**
* The MSP for cotton has been increased for the 2025-26 season (Medium Staple: ₹7,710/Qntl; Long Staple: ₹8,110/Qntl).
* Measures to strengthen cotton procurement include mandatory Aadhar authentication, SMS alerts for payment status, direct payments to Aadhar-linked bank accounts, and the CottAlly mobile app for information dissemination.
**Impact Analysis**
* **Cotton Farmers in Maharashtra:**
* *Impact:* Benefit from MSP, procurement support, insurance schemes, technological advancements, and reduced input costs through subsidized fertilizers and seeds.
* *Action Required:* Register for Aadhar authentication, utilize the CottAlly app for information, and apply for relevant insurance and loan schemes.
* **Cotton Corporation of India (CCI):**
* *Impact:* Responsible for procuring cotton at MSP, managing procurement centers, and ensuring timely payments to farmers.
* *Action Required:* Implement enhanced procurement measures, maintain adequate procurement centers, and ensure transparent and efficient payment processes.
* **Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (DAFW):**
* *Impact:* Oversees and implements various schemes and programs to support cotton farmers and enhance productivity.
* *Action Required:* Continue implementing and monitoring support schemes, promote technological solutions, and ensure MSP implementation through CCI.
Key Entities Referenced
Maharashtra: A state in India, key region for cotton production mentioned in the document.
Cotton Corporation of India: An organization under the Ministry of Textiles responsible for cotton procurement at Minimum Support Price (MSP) to safeguard the interests of cotton farmers.
Minimum Support Price (MSP): A price fixed by the Government to protect cotton farmers from distress sales when market prices fall below a certain level.
Jalgaon, Maharashtra: A key district in Maharashtra contributing to cotton production.
Yavatmal, Maharashtra: A key district in Maharashtra contributing to cotton production.
National Food Security and Nutrition Mission (NFSNM): A mission under which the Cotton Development Programme is implemented to enhance cotton production in major cotton growing states.
Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY): A government scheme that provides comprehensive risk insurance against crop damage from pre-sowing to post-harvest.
Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare: The government department responsible for agriculture and farmers welfare.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3703
TO BE ANSWERED ON 12TH AUGUST, 2025
SUPPORT TO COTTON FARMERS OF MAHARASHTRA
3703. PROF. VARSHA EKNATH GAIKWAD:
SHRI MOHITE PATIL DHAIRYASHEEL RAJSINH:
SHRI SANJAY DINA PATIL:
DR. AMOL RAMSING KOLHE:
SMT. SUPRIYA SULE:
SHRI BHASKAR MURLIDHAR BHAGARE:
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 estimated volume of cotton production in Maharashtra during the last three years;
(b) the details of specific support provided by the Government to farmers in the key districts
contributing to cotton production in Maharashtra, such as Jalgaon and Yavatmal;
(c) whether cotton farmers in Maharashtra face issues such as pest attacks, low market prices
and rising input costs, if so, the steps taken to address these challenges;
(d) whether the Government has introduced or supported technological solutions like satellite-
based monitoring or precision agriculture to enhance cotton productivity and reduce risks
particularly in Maharashtra;
(e) the details of any compensation, insurance or relief provided to cotton farmers in
Maharashtra under various schemes during the above period for crop failure or price crashes;
and
(f) whether there is any plan to strengthen cotton procurement at Minimum Support Price
(MSP) through Cotton Corporation of India in Maharashtra and the quantity procured during
the last three years, district-wise?
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): The details of cotton production in Maharashtra during the last three years is as
under:
(Production in lakh bales, each bale of 170 Kg.)
Crop 2022-23 2023-24 2024-25*
Cotton 83.16 80.45 92.32
*Data for the year 2024-25 is of 3ʳᵈ Advance Estimates Source: DA&FW
(b) to (d): The Government supports farmers of the cotton producing States, including
Maharashtra, to address the issues such as pest attacks, low market prices, rising input costsetc. and provide technological solutions such as satellite-based monitoring or precision
agriculture to enhance cotton productivity and reduce risks through various
schemes/programmes.
To enhance cotton productivity and quality, promote innovation and strengthen the
entire textile value chain in line with the Vision 2030, a five-year ‘Mission for Cotton
Productivity’ was announced by Hon’ble Finance Minister in her budget speech 2025-26. The
Department of Agricultural Research & Education (DARE) is the nodal department for
implementing the Mission, with the Ministry of Textiles as a partner. This Mission aims to
boost cotton production through strategic interventions, including research and extension
activities across all cotton-growing states. The Mission also proposes to focus on developing
climate-smart, pest-resistant, and high-yielding cotton varieties, including Extra Long Staple
(ELS) cotton, using advanced breeding and biotechnology tools.
In order to enhance the production and productivity of cotton, the Department of
Agriculture & Farmers Welfare is implementing Cotton Development Programme under the
National Food Security and Nutrition Mission (NFSNM) (erstwhile NFSM) in 15 major cotton
growing States, including Maharashtra, since 2014-15.
Further, a Special Project on Cotton titled 'Targeting technologies to agro-ecological
zones-large scale demonstration of best practices to enhance cotton productivity' of ICAR-
Central Institute for Cotton Research (CICR), Nagpur has been implemented in Maharashtra
and in seven other major cotton growing States under NFSNM during 2023-24 and 2024-25
to enhance the productivity of cotton.
Every year, Government fixes Minimum Support Prices (MSP) to provide remunerative
prices to cotton farmers, protecting them from distress sales when market prices fall below
the MSP. The MSP is fixed at least 50 percent margin over the cost of production. The rise in
inputs cost is accounted in the cost of production calculations.
The Cotton Corporation of India, under the Ministry of Textiles, safeguards the interests
of cotton farmers by opening adequate procurement centres, where its officials remain
present throughout the cotton season to ensure the implementation of Minimum Support Price
(MSP). There are no fixed targets or quantity restrictions for cotton procurement under MSP
operations. However, the farmers have the liberty to sell their produce either to CCI or private
parties.
In order to support cotton farmers in key cotton-producing districts of Maharashtra,
such as Jalgaon and Yavatmal, the Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) under its two Branches
viz., Aurangabad & Akola, has opened 128 procurement centres across 19 districts, including
11 centres in Jalgaon and 15 centres in Yavatmal. Thus, CCI has procured 144.55 lakh
quintals of kapas (cotton), valuing ₹10,714 crores, through 6.27 lakh transactions by cotton
farmers across the state. This includes procurement of about 21.39 lakh quintals of kapas
(cotton) from Yavatmal district and 4.79 lakh quintals from Jalgaon district.
The Government has been assisting APMCs in developing infrastructure and value
chain through various schemes like National Agriculture Market (e-NAM), Agriculture Market
Infrastructure (AMI), and Agri. Infrastructure Fund (AIF) etc. Under e-NAM, 133 APMC
markets of Maharashtra have been integrated with National Agriculture Market (e-NAM)
platform till 30.6.2025.Apart from input subsidies provided by the State Governments, the Central
Government implements schemes such as Per Drop More Crop, Sub-Mission on Agricultural
Mechanization (SMAM) etc., also support farmers. Government also ensures availability of
subsidized fertilizer to the farmers. Under Cotton Seeds Price (Control) Order, 2015, prices
of Bt cotton is fixed every year to make availability of seeds at reasonable price to the cotton
farmers.
The Government is using space technology for the various activities, which include
FASAL project (Forecasting Agricultural output using Space, Agro-meteorology and Land
based observations), Drought Monitoring and providing technological support to Pradhan
Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY). Under FASAL project, area and yield forecasting for
major crops including cotton is being carried out.
For the Drought Monitoring, Department has developed a Geoportal in collaboration
with SAC (ISRO), Ahmedabad. The portal hosts data of multiple drought indicators related to
rainfall, soil moisture, remote sensing-based crop condition, water storages, etc.
Space technology is also being used for various operational applications under
PMFBY, such as Smart Sampling for Crop Cutting Experiments (CCEs), yield estimation &
dispute resolution (area and yield).
Further, the Government has developed a Krishi Decision Support System (Krishi-
DSS) which is a cloud-based Geo-spatial platform that leverages space technology to
empower various stakeholders in the agriculture sector. Krishi-DSS platform hosts a variety
of datasets, including weather data, Satellite images, Soil layers, Water related data and field
information. Krishi-DSS offers variety of modules/algorithms to support agricultural
management and decision-making.
(e): The Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) scheme provides for
comprehensive risk insurance against crop damage from pre-sowing to post-harvest for crops
and area notified by the concerned State Government. Under this scheme, claims are
provided only to the insured farmers who suffer crop loss due to any unforeseen natural
climatic disasters and weather perils. Government of Maharashtra is implementing this
scheme since 2016 and details of claims paid to cotton farmers under this scheme during last
five years are as under:
Year 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
Claims Paid (in Cr.) 55.26 441.10 456.84 1941.09 758.95
Modified Interest Subvention Scheme (MISS) provides short-term agricultural loans at
concessional interest rates through Kisan Credit Cards (KCC). Under this scheme, farmers
including tenant farmers receive KCC loans at a subsidized interest rate of 7%. To facilitate
this, an upfront interest subvention (IS) of 1.5% is provided to financial institutions.
Additionally, farmers who repay their loans promptly receive a 3% Prompt Repayment
Incentive (PRI), effectively reducing the interest rate to 4% per annum.
(f): To ensure remunerative prices, the Government has been increasing the Minimum
Support Price (MSP) of cotton over the years. 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 forLong Staple to Rs. 8,110/Qntl, as compared to Rs. 7,121/Qntl and Rs. 7,521/Qntl respectively
during cotton season 2024-25.
To strengthen cotton procurement at MSP, following measures have been taken by CCI:
i. On spot Aadhar authentication (through OTP/biometric device) based farmer’s
registration made mandatory.
ii. SMS alerts launched to notify farmers about bill generation and payment status under
MSP operations.
iii. 100% payment directly in Aadhar linked Bank Accounts of cotton farmers through
National Automated Clearing House (NACH), to ensure that the benefits of the MSP
reaches directly to genuine cotton farmers.
iv. Launched “Cott-Ally” mobile app in nine regional languages to enhance awareness
among cotton farmers about MSP rates, nearest procurement centers, payment
tracking, live chat support etc.
The details of district-wise procurement by Cotton Corporation of India in
Maharashtra during the last three years is given at Annexure.Annexure
Statement showing the district-wise quantity procured under MSP operation in
Maharashtra during the last three years:
2021-22 2022-23 2023-24 2024-25
Sl. Quantity Quantity
Branch District
No Kapas Lint Kapas Lint
Quantity Quantity
(Lakh (Lakh (Lakh (Lakh
Qtls) Bales) Qtls) Bales)
1 Akola Akola - - 3.10 0.62 22.00 4.54
2 Akola Amravati - - 0.52 0.11 13.00 2.70
3 Akola Buldhana - - 1.00 0.21 9.00 1.82
4 Akola Chandrapur - - 1.10 0.22 12.00 2.42
5 Akola Nagpur - - 0.32 0.07 1.50 0.31
6 Akola Wardha - - 0.38 0.08 8.40 1.69
7 Akola Washim - - 0.39 0.08 1.50 0.30
8 Akola Yavatmal - - 1.00 0.21 21.39 4.28
9 Akola Gadchiroli - - - - 0.25 0.05
10 Aurangabad Ahemadnagar - - 0.01 0.00 2.98 0.60
11 Aurangabad Aurangabad - - 0.07 0.01 7.29 1.46
12 Aurangabad Beed - - 0.05 0.01 6.00 1.39
13 Aurangabad Dhule - - 0.25 0.05 3.82 0.76
14 Aurangabad Hingoli - - 0.05 0.01 1.83 0.37
15 Aurangabad Jalgaon - - 0.83 0.17 4.70 0.96
16 Aurangabad Jalna - - 1.48 0.30 8.89 1.78
17 Aurangabad Nanded - - 0.74 0.15 2.95 0.59
18 Aurangabad Nandurbar - - 0.04 0.01 3.05 0.61
19 Aurangabad Parbhani - - 0.72 0.14 14.00 2.80
Total - - 12.05 2.44 144.55 29.41
Note: During Cotton Season 2021-22 & 2022-23, cotton prices were ruling above MSP.
Hence, no MSP support required by farmers.
Source: Cotton Corporation of India Ltd.
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