Gujarat leads India in cotton production
NEW DELHI : Gujarat topped the charts nationwide in terms of cotton production, with a production of 9,056.99 thousand bales (170 kg each) in the year 2023-24, said the Union Government.
In a reply to a question during the ongoing Budget Session of Parliament, Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Ramnath Thakur, stated:
The details of State-wise production of Cotton in the country and the district-wise production of Cotton in the State of Maharashtra during last three years are given at Annexure – I & II. Further, during 2023-24, 32.84 lakh bales of cotton were procured by Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) under MSP operations. Out of this 32.84 lakh bales, 31.80 lakh bales have been sold up till 27th January 2025. Due to better price realisation in domestic sales and no price parity in exports, there was no offtake in export market. Currently, there are no restrictions on exports of Cotton from India, and the Government of India, does not import Cotton. However, local traders import cotton independently, and there is no mandate from Government of India to do so and control the prices.
Minimum Support Price (MSP) for cotton provides a safety net for farmers as they are assured of getting at least Minimum Support Price for their produce. MSP is recommended by the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP) every year based on the formula of 1.5 times of cost of production (A2+FL) so as to ensure reasonably fair remuneration i.e. at least 50% over cost of production to farmers. The details of minimum support price for cotton during last three years is given as under:
Rs. per quintal
| Cotton | 2021-22 | 2022-23 | 2023-24 |
| Medium Staple | 5726 | 6080 | 6620 |
| Long Staple | 6025 | 6380 | 7020 |
The above figures also provide information that this MSP has been steadily increasing over the years.
Further, to provide the benefits of MSP scheme and ensure reasonable prices to the cotton farmers, CCI has opened 507 procurement centres in 152 districts of 12 cotton growing States including 9 procurement centres in Amravati District and 15 procurement centres in Yavatmal District in the state of Maharashtra.