India’s Cotton imports increase despite pressure on Indian cotton prices
Scientific name – Gossypium.
Genus - Of flowering plants in the tribe Gossypieae of the mallow family, Malvaceae.
Location - Tropical and subtropical regions.
BT Cotton - Genetically modified Cotton by the insertion of one or more genes from a common soil bacterium, Bacillus thuringiensis.
India cotton year – October 1 to September 30.
India’s cotton production – India has 38% of cotton global average and 23% of the global production.
Surge in the cotton import – 7 % decline in production due to reduction in acreage and excessive rainfall ( 2024-25), weak international cotton price and domestic price has increased by 40 % due to the MSP.
India ramps up cotton imports even as domestic prices face downward pressure.
Disparity- Cotton farmers believe that the procurement price for cotton in India is low, while international cotton is being offered at a lower rate."
Top cotton producing countries (in Bales) – China( 31 Million bales), India ( 25), USA ( 14.4 ), Brazil( 17) and Pakistan( 5.2 ).
Top cotton producing states- Maharashtra ( 25 %), Gujarat( 20%), Telangana(15%), Andhra Pradesh ( 10%) and Karnataka (8%).
Cotton Mission, 2025- Announced in the Budget by the Ministry of Finance, to boost the cotton productivity and farmer’s income, using science and technology.
Through this mission India should focus on enhancing productivity to ensure Indian cotton remains competitive
F 5 Principles of Mission Cotton - Farm to Fibre, Fibre to Factory, Factory to Fashion, Fashion to Foreign.
Cotton Corporation of India
Established – On July 1970 as a Public Sector Undertaking under the Companies Act 1956.
Nodal Agency – Ministry of Textiles.
Location – CBD Belapur, Navy Mumbai, Maharastra.
Role and functions – Canalizing the import and purchase of cotton, MSP operations and commercial purchasing operations.
