Cotton Farmers in Adilabad Hit Hard as CCI Halts Procurement
Adilabad: Cotton farmers in Adilabad and nearby districts are facing severe financial stress following the halt of procurement by the Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) on February 27. With no further extension granted, many farmers have been forced to sell their produce to private traders at prices significantly below the Minimum Support Price (MSP).
According to official data, cotton was cultivated over approximately 12.60 lakh acres across Adilabad, Mancherial, Kumram Bheem Asifabad, and Nirmal districts during the 2025 season. Initial estimates projected a production of nearly 70 lakh quintals, but adverse weather conditions led to a notable decline in overall output.
CCI had commenced procurement on October 27, offering ₹8,110 per quintal for cotton with 8–12% moisture content. However, the price was later reduced by ₹100 per quintal due to higher moisture levels and smaller seed size, further impacting farmers’ income.
Although procurement was officially stopped on February 20, protests by farmer groups and political parties, particularly the BRS, led to a short extension until February 27. Demonstrations, including road blockades, were held, and memorandums were submitted to district authorities demanding an extension.
Despite continued appeals from farmer organizations and political leaders to extend procurement until March 25, the decision remained unchanged.
With procurement centres now closed, farmers are compelled to sell cotton at around ₹6,500 per quintal—nearly ₹1,500 below MSP—resulting in substantial losses.
Borranna, district convener of Rythu Swarajya Vedika, highlighted that farmers are facing multiple challenges from sowing to harvesting. He stated that cotton farming, once profitable, has become increasingly unsustainable due to weak market support and unseasonal rainfall.
Procurement figures also reflect the downturn. The erstwhile Adilabad district has recorded around 45 lakh quintals of procurement so far, compared to 56.94 lakh quintals last year. At the Adilabad Agriculture Market Yard, procurement stood at 18.93 lakh quintals, down from 25.38 lakh quintals in the previous season.
Similar declines have been reported in market yards across Asifabad, Nirmal, and Mancherial districts.
Overall, the situation underscores growing distress among cotton farmers, with falling prices, reduced procurement, and adverse weather compounding their challenges.
