Intro
Pointing to Karnataka’s performance, he said the state recorded the highest yield in the south, surpassing the national average
BENGALURU
Concerns over rising cotton imports and growing distress among domestic cultivators echoed in the Lok Sabha, with Raichur MP Kumar Naik highlighting the mounting challenges faced by cotton farmers, particularly in Karnataka.
Raising the issue during Question Hour, Naik noted that although India is the world’s second-largest cotton producer after China, with Brazil close behind, domestic growers are grappling with uncertainty despite the expansion of procurement under the Minimum Support Price (MSP) scheme. He pointed out that Karnataka has recorded the highest cotton yield in southern India, surpassing the national average, yet farmers remain under severe stress.
Naik flagged a sharp spike in cotton imports, stating that government data shows imports from Brazil surged by over 1,000 percent year-on-year over the past two years. Imports from the United States also rose by nearly 200 percent during the same period. He argued that such a dramatic increase is undermining domestic producers and exerting downward pressure on prices.
Highlighting the ground reality, Naik said farmers are battling falling market prices, rising input costs, and persistent policy uncertainty. “If this trend continues, we risk becoming heavily dependent on imports, weakening our farmers and compromising long-term agricultural security,” he warned. He added that cotton-growing districts such as Kalaburagi, Raichur and Yadgir possess significant potential, provided they receive stronger institutional backing and policy stability.
Responding to the concerns, Union Textiles Minister Giriraj Singh assured the House that the Centre remains committed to safeguarding farmers’ interests. He said MSP is fixed based on recommendations of the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP), along with inputs from state governments and assessments of production costs, ensuring farmers receive at least 1.5 times the cost of production.
For the 2025–26 season, the MSP for cotton has been set between Rs 7,710 and Rs 8,110 per quintal, depending on quality—an increase of Rs 589 per quintal over the previous year. Singh added that 571 procurement centres have been opened across 149 districts in 11 cotton-growing states, and more than 90.5 lakh bales have been procured so far.
On import policy, the Minister clarified that the 11 percent import duty on cotton was temporarily exempted between August and December 2025 but was reintroduced in January 2026. However, Naik maintained that the temporary duty relief had adverse consequences, as domestic cotton prices crashed amid global tariff pressures, intensifying distress among farmers.
