Cotton Sales in Telangana Below MSP Due to CCI Restrictions
By yash chouhan 2025-11-08 11:18:04
Cotton Prices Dip Below MSP in Telangana Amid CCI Curbs
Adilabad: The Cotton Corporation of India's (CCI) restriction on purchasing only 7 quintals of cotton per acre and the problem of high moisture content have severely affected farmers in northern Telangana districts. This decision, based on recent yield surveys conducted during this Kharif season, has forced many farmers to sell their produce at lower prices.
Due to CCI's procurement limits and strict moisture content (8-12 percent) criteria, approximately 80 percent of farmers are selling their cotton to private traders at an average rate of ₹6,500 per quintal, significantly below the minimum support price (MSP) of ₹8,110. Farmers producing more than 7 quintals per acre are unable to sell their entire produce to CCI.
Previously, CCI used to purchase up to 13 quintals per acre, but the new restrictions have caused significant hardship. Farmers say that natural moisture levels remain high due to fog and continuous rain, and even after drying the cotton for several days, the moisture content often remains above 20 percent.
In Adilabad district, 136,752 farmers cultivated cotton on 425,932 acres, with an estimated yield of 3.3 million quintals. However, there is a huge difference between the purchases made by the CCI and private traders, with the CCI purchasing only 7,961 quintals of cotton, while private traders purchased approximately 15,000 quintals. In Nirmal district, the CCI purchased 4,500 quintals and private traders purchased 3,000 quintals.
Farmers like Madhukar of Anokoli village allege that the CCI's strict rules are forcing farmers to sell their produce to private traders, as their produce is rejected due to moisture exceeding the limit. They demanded that the CCI increase the procurement limit to 12 quintals per acre as before and reduce the moisture limit to 22 percent, given the current climatic conditions.
It is concerning that despite announcing 27 procurement centers in Adilabad, the CCI is only operating five.
Former Minister Jogu Ramanna met with CCI Adilabad Branch Manager Puneet Rathi and urged him to reduce the moisture criteria to 20 percent and remove the 7 quintal procurement limit. Meanwhile, BRS leaders protested outside the residence of Adilabad MP Godam Nagesh, demanding that he raise the issue with the central government to ensure justice for cotton farmers.
