Maharashtra: Cotton procurement begins in the state from October 15
By yash chouhan 2025-08-30 11:38:02
Maharashtra: Cotton procurement: Cotton procurement to begin in the state from October 15
The Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) will procure cotton through around 550 centres across the country and over 150 centres in Maharashtra. CCI Chairman Lalit Kumar Gupta informed that cotton procurement will begin in the state from October 15.
As per the demand of the textile industry, the central government has removed the 11 per cent import duty on cotton till December 31. This is likely to put pressure on cotton prices due to increased cotton imports. This is causing uneasiness among cotton farmers.
The central government has declared a minimum support price of Rs 8,110 per quintal for cotton this year. However, due to the duty-free import policy, cotton prices in the open market are likely to remain lower than the MSP. Therefore, this year farmers will be inclined towards government procurement. There are indications of record arrival of cotton at CCI centres this season. Last season, CCI had procured about 2.5 lakh quintals of cotton. This year, more cotton is expected to be purchased.
Sale possible after registration
CCI has made registration on the Kapas Kisan App mandatory for selling cotton. Registration can be done between 1 and 30 September. Registered farmers can sell cotton on any day and at any center in the prescribed seven-day slot.
Cotton is cultivated in 38 lakh 35 thousand 947 hectares in the state.
Assuming an average productivity of 10 quintals, the production of about 400 lakh quintals of cotton (80 lakh bales) is estimated from the cultivated area. Currently, 8 to 12 percent moisture is acceptable for purchasing cotton. The price decreases when the moisture increases. Accordingly, a reduction of Rs 324 is made by assuming 8 to 12 percent moisture. However, there is a demand to keep the moisture limit at 15 percent. Marketing expert Govind Vairale said that an additional deduction of Rs 567 will be made if the moisture increases, but this will benefit the farmers in selling cotton.
Last season, the number of cotton procurement centres was less than 120. This year, considering the possibility of increased arrivals, there will be more than 150 procurement centres in Maharashtra. There is a plan to open about 550 procurement centres across the country. The special thing about this time's procurement is that all the steps from registration to payment have been done online.
