Lok Sabha Question No. 1515 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-07-29
Subject: Import and Purchase of Cotton
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Dr. Bachhav Shobha Dinesh

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE & FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE & FARMERS WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1515

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 29 TH  JULY 2025

## IMPORT AND PURCHASE OF COTTON

1515.  DR. BACHHAV SHOBHA DINESH:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE क ृ िष एवं िकसान कʞाण मंũी 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 क ृ िष एवं िकसान कʞाण राǛ मंũी (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  1 st   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 202425. (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. NO.   | COUNTRY         | 2019-20   | 2019-20   | 2020-21   | 2020-21   | 2021-22   | 2021-22   | 2022-23   | 2022-23   | 2023-24   | 2023-24   | 2024-25*   | 2024-25*   |
|-----------|-----------------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|------------|------------|
| SR. NO.   | COUNTRY         | 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 COUNTRIES | 544195    | 1084      | 142350    | 326       | 604806    | 2814      | 241098    | 921       | 408400    | 1157      | 1230621    | 3157       |
| Total     | Total           | 1550312   | 3588      | 1102637   | 3480      | 2113274   | 10354     | 1459396   | 6029      | 1519675   | 5483      | 2709648    | 7830       |

Source: DGCIS, Kolkata *Position upto 31st May, 2025

Annexure-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   | Qty in Lakh Bales and Value in Rs. Crore   | Qty in Lakh Bales and Value in Rs. Crore   | Qty in Lakh Bales and Value in Rs. Crore   |
|-------------|---------|------------------------------|---------|------------------------------|--------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------|
|             | 2019-20 | 2019-20                      | 2020-21 | 2020-21                      | 2023-24                                    | 2023-24                                    | 2024-25                                    | 2024-25                                    |
| State       | Qty     | Value of Purchases under MSP | Qty     | Value of Purchases under MSP | Qty                                        | Value of Purchases under MSP               | Qty                                        | Value of Purchases under 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   | 2019-20    | 2019-20              | 2019-20                      | 2020-21   | 2020-21    | 2020-21              | 2020-21                                  |
|-------|------------|-------------|-----------|------------|----------------------|------------------------------|-----------|------------|----------------------|------------------------------------------|
|       |            |             | Purchase  | Purchase   | Value (Rs. in Crore) | No of transacti from in Lakh | Purchase  | Purchase   | Value (Rs. in Crore) | No of transactio ns from Farmers in Lakh |
| Sl No | Branch     | District    | Lakh Qtls | Lakh bales |                      | ons Farmers                  | Lakh Qtls | Lakh bales |                      |                                          |
| 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                                     |
| Total | Total      | Total       | 128.12    | 26.25      | 6897.85              | 5.41                         | 91.98     | 17.52      | 4980.91              | 3.60                                     |

| Sl No   | Branch     | District    | 2023-24   | 2023-24    | 2023-24              | 2023-24                             | 2024-25   | 2024-25    | 2024-25              | 2024-25                                  |
|---------|------------|-------------|-----------|------------|----------------------|-------------------------------------|-----------|------------|----------------------|------------------------------------------|
|         |            |             | Purchase  | Purchase   | Value (Rs. in Crore) | No of transacti ons Farmers in Lakh | Purchase  | Purchase   | Value (Rs. in Crore) | No of transactio ns from Farmers in Lakh |
|         |            |             | Lakh Qtls | Lakh bales |                      | from                                | Lakh Qtls | Lakh bales |                      |                                          |
| 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   | Total      | 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)

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