Amidst CCI delays and app registration issues, 50% of Punjab's cotton sold below MSP
Bathinda: It has been 15 days since the official procurement of the cotton crop began in Punjab, but farmers are still waiting for the Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) to begin purchasing at the Minimum Support Price (MSP). This situation is despite the fact that by the evening of October 14th, approximately 90,000 quintals of cotton had arrived at procurement centers in Punjab. Due to the CCI not purchasing, private traders are purchasing, and many of these purchases are being made at prices well below the MSP.
So far, 50% of the cotton in the state has been purchased below the MSP. In the current season, cotton prices have reached Rs. 3,000 per quintal (although only a small quantity has achieved such a low price), while the highest price recorded was Rs. 7,720 per quintal. The MSP for medium staple is ₹7,710 per quintal, while for long staple is ₹8,110 per quintal. Cotton with a staple length of 27.5-28.5 mm is typically grown in the state, with an MSP of ₹8,010 per quintal.
To ensure transparency, the CCI has introduced an app, the Cotton Farmer App, from the 2025-26 season and made it mandatory for cotton procurement. Many farmers are facing difficulties registering on the Aadhaar-based registration app, which is preventing CCI from making purchases.
According to data received from the Punjab State Agricultural Marketing Board (PSAMB), 89,209 quintals of cotton arrived in the mandis as of October 14, of which 88,991 quintals have been procured, and 44,368 quintals were procured below the MSP. Cotton is grown on 1.19 lakh hectares (2.97 lakh acres) in Punjab, of which approximately 30,000 acres have been damaged due to floods. Last year, cotton was cultivated on 99,700 hectares.
Farmers are required to upload valid land records certified by revenue or agriculture officials and details of cotton sowing areas. Farmers can self-register on their mobile phones. The CCI informed all Agricultural Produce Market Committees (APMCs) across the state on August 21 about the new digital registration process. Initially, registration was to be completed by September 30, but it was extended to October 31.
Karnail Singh, a farmer from the Khuiya Sarwar area of Fazilka, said, "We are facing a lot of difficulty in registering on the Cotton Farmer App because new Girdawari reports of the cotton acreage have to be uploaded. We want the CCI to procure as usual and waive registration this year due to the floods." CCI officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the corporation is ready to procure produce with up to 12% moisture content, but farmers will have to register through the Cotton Farmer App and the records will have to be verified by state government officials.
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