MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE (SHRI SHARAD PAWAR)
(a) to (d): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.
STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (d) OF LOK SABHA
STARRED QUESTION NO. 141 DUE FOR REPLY ON 21ST AUGUST, 2012.
(a): Details of production and productivity per hectare of cotton in the country during
2009-10, 2010-11 and 2011-12 are as under:
Year Production Yield (Lakh bales of 170 Kgs. Each) (Kg/Hect.)
2009-10 240.22 403
2010-11 330.00 499
2011-12# 352.00 491
# 4th advance estimates
First Advance Estimates of Production of cotton for 2012-13 are scheduled for
release in the month of September, 2012.
(b) & (c): The estimated cost of production of cotton in the country has increased
from Rs.2111/- per quintal in 2009-10 to Rs.2772/- per quintal in 2012-13 i.e. an
increase of 31.31%. In terms of the average annual Wholesale Price Indices (Base:
2004-05 = 100), the percentage increase in the prices of major inputs for cotton
production viz. seeds, fertilizers, pesticides, diesel, electricity and agricultural machinery
& implements during the calendar years 2009-12 is given in the table below:
Input Wholesale Price Indices (Base:2004-05=100) Percentage increase in 2009 2010 2011 2012(Jan-Jul) 2012 over 2009
Cotton seed 129.2 132.8 141.7 145.5 12.6
Fertilizers 107.7 114.2 127.4 142.2 32.0
Pesticides 111.1 113.0 114.2 118.0 6.2
High Speed Diesel 130.3 147.9 161.0 167.8 28.8
Electricity
(Agriculture) 113.8 123.3 130.5 135.7 19.2
Agricultural Machinery
& Implements 121.2 132.7 133.3 135.9 12.1
Government announces the Minimum Support Prices (MSPs) of various crops on
the basis of recommendations of Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP)
which considers a number of important factors such as cost of production, changes in
input prices, trends in market prices, demand and supply situation, effect on general
price level, etc. The MSP for cotton has been increased over the years. For 2009-10
season, MSPs for Medium Staple and Long Staple varieties of cotton were fixed at
Rs.2500/- per quintal and Rs.3000/- per quintal respectively against their all-India
weighted average cost of production of Rs. 2111/- per quintal. For 2012-13 season, the
MSPs for Medium Staple and Long Staple varieties of cotton have been fixed at
Rs.3600/- and Rs.3900/- per quintal respectively which provide adequate margins over
and above their all-India weighted average cost of production of Rs.2772/- per quintal.
(d): To improve production, productivity and quality of cotton, Ministry of Agriculture is
implementing Mini Mission-II of Technology Mission on Cotton (TMC) in 13 cotton
growing States in the country under which assistance is provided to farmers for seeds,
agriculture implements, water-saving devices, bio-agents/bio-pesticides, integrated pest
management, demonstrations, training, etc. Further, Indian council of Agricultural
Research (ICAR) implements All India Coordinated Research Project (AICRP) on
Cotton with specific mandate to develop high yielding varieties and hybrids of cotton
and related cotton production and protection technologies. Central Institute for Cotton
Research at Nagpur is conducting basic and strategic research on cotton.
