Corrective Measures to Prevent Reduction in Cotton Production

For the cotton season 2015-16, Cotton Advisory Board (CAB) has revised the cotton production estimate at 338 lakh bales as against its earlier estimates of 352 lakh bales. The reasons for the downwards cotton production estimates are:

(i) The acreage under cotton has decreased by around 7% as against previous year due to switching over to other crops in Northern & Central Regions.

(ii) White fly attack in Northern zone and pink boll-worm attack in Gujarat region.

(iii) Delayed rains in Central & Southern region and deficit rains across all cotton growing areas.

The corrective measures taken/being taken by the Government to prevent the reduction in production of cotton are as under:

i) Department of Agriculture, Cooperation and Farmers Welfare is implementing Cotton Development Programme with a focus on cropping system approach under National Food Security Mission (NFSM) in 15 major cotton growing states viz; Assam, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Orissa, Punjab, Rajasthan, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh & West Bengal since 2014-15. Under the scheme, thrust is given for transfer of latest technology to cotton growers through Front Line Demonstration (FLD) on Integrated Crop Management (ICM), Desi Cotton, Extra Long Staple Cotton, High Density Planting System. The scheme is being implemented through State Department of Agriculture (SDA), Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), State Agriculture Universities (SAUs), Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) etc. Besides, States can support cotton development programme under Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY).

ii) With a view to promote Cotton farming, during cotton season 2016-17, Ministry of Agriculture, Cooperation & Farmer Welfare has fixed minimum support price for medium staple length cotton at Rs. 3860/- per quintal and for long staple at Rs. 4160/- per quintal.

iii) Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) Limited has been entrusted with procurement of cotton from farmers at Minimum Support Price (MSP) to protect the interest of farmers by giving MSP to their produce to avoid distress sale.

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