With 9,056,990 bales of 170 kg each, Gujarat topped India's cotton production charts for the 2023-24 seasons, according to the Union Government.
Providing the state-wise and district-wide cotton production data (Annexture I&II), Ramnath Thakur, Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, states, Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) procured 3,284,000 bales of cotton under Minimum Support Price (MSP) operations, with 3,180,000 bales sold by January 27, 2025. Due to favorable domestic prices and a lack of price parity in exports, there were no cotton exports. Currently, India has no export restrictions on cotton, and the government does not import cotton. Local traders may import cotton independently, but there is no government mandate to do so or control prices.
The MSP for cotton provides a safety net for farmers, guaranteeing a minimum price for their produce. The Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP) recommends the MSP annually, based on a formula of 1.5 times the cost of production (A2+FL), ensuring at least a 50 per cent return over production costs.
To implement the MSP scheme and ensure reasonable prices for cotton farmers, the CCI has established 507 procurement centers in 152 districts across 12 cotton-growing states, including 9 centers in Amravati District and 15 in Yavatmal District, Maharashtra.
