Introduction

Gujarat’s cotton farmers are facing acute agrarian distress due to unprecedented rainfall, a sudden collapse in cotton prices, stagnant government procurement mechanisms, and the Union government’s decision to allow duty-free cotton imports. The crisis highlights deep structural vulnerabilities in India’s cotton economy, dependency on global markets, weak domestic safety nets, and uncertain price stabilisation mechanisms.

Why in the news

Cotton-growing districts of Gujarat have reported six farmer suicides within one month after heavy October rainfall drastically damaged crops and market prices crashed. This collapse is occurring despite cotton prices having remained high for nearly a decade. This marked a sharp reversal from the earlier trend of price stability and strong export demand.

Why are cotton farmers in Gujarat facing acute distress?

1. Heavy rainfall damage: Destroyed standing crops, especially in Saurashtra, forcing farmers like Dhanabhai and Bharatbhai to re-borrow for harvesting, labour, and picking.
2. Sudden price crash: Prices dropped to ₹7,200-₹8,200 per quintal, down from last season’s ₹10,000-₹11,000, while input costs (seeds, pesticides, diesel) remain high.
3. High production cost burden: Farmers reported spending close to ₹60,000 per hectare, but market prices provide no recovery of investment.
4. Delayed government compensation: Farmers received little to no compensation for rain-damaged cotton; most remain outside the formal support system.
5. Psychological stress: Multiple farmer suicides recorded; families cite inability to repay loans and the shock of unexpected price fall.

How have policy decisions worsened the crisis?

1. Duty-free cotton imports: Farmers argue that allowing imports when domestic arrival begins pushes prices further down.
2. Reduced import duty from 5% to zero: Facilitated cheaper imports from countries like US, Brazil, Egypt.
3. Timing mismatch: Import duty removal announced just before domestic arrivals, undermining farm-gate prices.
4. Procurement failure: The MSP of ₹7,750 remains non-functional because ginning mills and traders offer lower prices; many farmers cannot access MSP procurement centres.
5. GST on ginning industry: Ginning mills flagged 5% GST on textile waste (cotton seed oil cake and kapasiya) as an additional economic burden.

How are market dynamics affecting farmers?

1. Export slowdown: India is no longer the world’s top cotton exporter; Bangladesh, Vietnam, Pakistan, and Indonesia have cheaper alternatives.
2. High transportation costs: Freight charges and rising diesel prices raise processing and movement costs.
3. Shift in domestic consumption patterns: Mills increasingly depend on cheaper imported cotton, weakening domestic procurement.
4. Quality concerns: Heavy rain reduced cotton quality, lowering demand from ginning mills.
5. Ginners’ risks: Ginners avoid MSP procurement because they must sell at a loss in the global market.

What are farmers demanding from the government?

1. Immediate ban on cotton imports to stabilise domestic prices.
2. Higher MSP operations at the farm gate so farmers don’t bear transportation costs.
3. Real-time procurement centres within villages.
4. Compensation for rain-damaged crops through central or state intervention.
5. Market intervention scheme similar to groundnut and mustard procurement to ensure price stabilisation.

How are traders and mill owners responding to the crisis?

1. Ginners demand revival packages: They seek reduced GST and logistics support.
2. Push for long-term cotton policy: Industry requests structural support to modernise ginning infrastructure.
3. Preference for imported cotton: Imported cotton considered more consistent in quality, impacting local demand.
4. Call for farm-to-mill ecosystem: Mills argue for direct purchase systems that reduce intermediaries.

Conclusion

The cotton crisis in Gujarat reveals a deeper structural challenge in India’s agricultural economy, policy unpredictability, global price sensitivity, inadequate MSP operations, and climate-driven crop volatility. Without strong procurement support, import regulation, and farmer-centric institutional mechanisms, cotton farmers remain exposed to extreme price fluctuations and rising indebtedness. Sustainable stabilisation of the cotton economy requires coordinated action across trade, agriculture, and industry.

PYQ Relevance

[UPSC 2017] What are the major reasons for declining rice and wheat yield in the cropping system? How crop diversification is helpful to stabilise the yield of the crops in the system?

Linkage: The question links to the article’s theme of monocropping-led vulnerability, as seen in cotton farmers’ distress. It reinforces how diversification stabilises yields and incomes when single-crop systems fail.

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