Cabinet Approves ₹1,718.56 Crore MSP Support for Cotton Farmers Through CCI
In a significant move aimed at strengthening farmer welfare, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved ₹1,718.56 crore in Minimum Support Price (MSP) funding for the Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) for the 2023–24 cotton season.
This financial support is intended to provide direct price assurance to cotton farmers across the country.
For the 2023–24 season, cotton cultivation covered an estimated 114.47 lakh hectares, with production projected at 325.22 lakh bales—nearly 25% of global cotton output. The MSP for seed cotton (kapas) is determined based on recommendations from the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices.
According to the CCEA, MSP operations are crucial in protecting farmers, especially when market prices dip below the MSP. These interventions help stabilise prices, prevent distress sales, and ensure fair returns, thereby strengthening the economic security of cotton-growing communities.
Cotton remains one of India’s most important cash crops, supporting around 60 lakh farmers and providing livelihoods to 400–500 lakh people engaged in related sectors such as processing, trade, and textiles.
The Cotton Corporation of India serves as the central nodal agency for MSP operations in cotton. It procures all Fair Average Quality (FAQ) cotton from farmers without any quantitative limit whenever market prices fall below MSP levels, offering a reliable safety net.
To ensure smooth procurement, CCI has set up an extensive network across 11 major cotton-producing states, with over 508 procurement centres operating in 152 districts. Additionally, the corporation has introduced several technology-driven and farmer-focused initiatives to improve efficiency and transparency in MSP operations.
