New Delhi, 2 December 2014

“There is no proposal to increase the Minimum Support Price of Cotton”, the Minister of State for Agriculture, Shri Mohanbhai Kundaria today said in a reply in Lok Sabha.

The Minister in his reply said, “during the current Cotton season 2014-15, prices of Cotton are below MSP in the States of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Maharashtra.”

“The Cotton Corporation of India Limited (CCI) has initiated action for procurement of Cotton from the growers at the Minimum Support Price in 341 centres located in 92 Districts in 11 Cotton growing States,” he further said.

He said, “domestic Cotton prices depend on a number of factors including previous balance, current supply, current as well as future demand for cotton in both domestic and international markets. At present, Cotton prices in international markets are ruling lower than the prices that prevailed during the corresponding period last year primarily due to lower demand by China and increased supply from the USA.”

Details of market prices of Cotton in the major Cotton growing States as per Minister’s reply are as under(Rs. Per Quintal):