Sankheda Sets Record: CCI Procures Cotton Worth ₹685 Crore

Record Cotton Procurement in Gujarat’s Sankheda: CCI Buys Produce Worth ₹685 Crore

Sankheda (Gujarat): A major milestone has been achieved in the agriculture sector of Sankheda taluka, where the Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) recorded a significant cotton procurement during the 2025–26 season. Despite challenges such as unseasonal rains and adverse weather, cotton worth nearly ₹685 crore was directly purchased from farmers.

The procurement drive, which started in December at Handod and Kalediya centres, concluded on February 27. This season, CCI offered a higher Minimum Support Price (MSP) of ₹8,060 per quintal, attracting a large number of farmers not only from Chhota Udaipur district but also from neighbouring Narmada and Vadodara districts.

As per official figures, around 8.50 lakh quintals of cotton were procured at these two centres, marking a notable increase from last year’s 7.81 lakh quintals—an addition of nearly 70,000 quintals.

While farmers welcomed the higher MSP, concerns were raised regarding crop losses due to untimely rainfall and initial difficulties with the newly introduced digital registration system. For the first time, CCI implemented a mobile app-based registration process aimed at improving transparency and efficiency.

Although farmers initially found the system challenging due to document uploads and digital procedures, it ensured direct payment transfers into bank accounts, minimizing delays and eliminating middlemen.

Despite weather-related setbacks affecting crop quality and yield, overall procurement has surpassed last year’s levels. The infusion of ₹685 crore into the rural economy is expected to boost local trade, liquidity, and employment in the region.

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