Context

The cotton farmers in several States have urged the Centre and demanded an increase in the minimum support price (MSP) of the crop.

About

About the MSP for cotton:

• The domestic prices right now are higher than the MSP of cotton.
• The MSP for medium staple cotton for the 2022-23 Kharif seasonsis Rs.6, 080.
• Though farmers said they got prices much higher than MSP for their produce, it was inadequate given the rise in the price of input items such as seeds, pesticides and fertilisers.

What is MSP?

• It is the minimum price at which government agencies procure particular crops from the farmer at
• It is announced by the government on 23 commodities including 22 mandated crops and fair and remunerative price (FRP) for sugarcane.

Who announced MSP?

• The Cabinet Committee of Economic Affairs announces MSP based on the recommendations of the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP).

Cotton farming patterns:

• It is a Kharif cropthat comes from the natural fibres of cotton plants, which are native to tropical and subtropical regions.
• The top five cotton-producing countries are China, India, the United States of America, Brazil and Pakistan,which together account for more than three-quarters of global production.
• Being renewable and biodegradable, cotton is the most environmentally friendly raw material for the textile industry as compared to its synthetic alternatives.
• Cotton plants have a large growing period which can extend up to 200 days. Growing cotton starts between December and March. 
• These plants require a relatively high temperature (21-30°C)over a long growing season.
• Cotton is a less water-intensive crop as it is a xerophyte, which can grow in dry, arid environments.

Cotton production in India:

• India is the largest producer of cotton in the world and the third largest exporter. It is also the largest consumer of cotton in the world.
• Top Cotton Producing States in India are Gujarat and Maharashtra. Telangana, Andhra Pradesh.
• India is the country to grow all four species of cultivated cotton;
• • arboreum
  • Herbaceum (Asian cotton)
  • barbadense (Egyptian cotton)
  • hirsutum (American Upland cotton).
• hirsutum represents 94% of the hybrid cotton production in India and all the current Bt cotton hybrids are G. hirsutum.
• India is the only country that grows cotton as hybrids and the first to develop hybrid cotton back in 1970.