Cotton Farmers in Indian States Are Concerned by the High Moisture Content
Telangana and Maharashtra hardest hit as CCI seeks lower moisture levels in cotton crops
Cotton farmers in Telangana are facing challenges as market prices have dropped below the Minimum Support Price (MSP) at several market yards. The Cotton Corporation of India (CCI), responsible for MSP operations for cotton, attributes the drop to high moisture content in states like Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and Maharashtra.
“They’re lowering prices, claiming our cotton’s moisture level exceeds the acceptable range,” shared Lakshan Reddy (name changed), a farmer from Warangal district.
This season, heavy rains and recent flooding have left farmers with damp cotton bolls, and in some cases, harvested cotton has become wet, further increasing the moisture content. “We require moisture levels to remain between 8-12 percent. When it exceeds this, acceptance becomes challenging, with some samples showing moisture levels as high as 20-25 percent. Farmers need to dry their cotton before bringing it to procurement centers,” said Lalit Kumar Gupta, Chairman and MD of CCI.
Due to back-to-back festivals, cotton arrivals at market yards have been delayed. On Monday, yards reported arrivals of around 90,000 bales, totaling 1.2 million bales for the current procurement season.
Cotton Association of India President Atul Ganatra shared concerns with electronic media, noting that his association has written to Textile Minister Giriraj Singh, urging CCI to accept cotton with moisture up to 18 percent. “Continuous rain recently has led to higher moisture levels. Farmers are left with no choice but to sell their cotton between ₹3,000 and ₹6,000 per quintal—well below the MSP,” he explained.
Although current arrivals are about 400,000 bales lower than last year, CCI remains hopeful. “As sunny days return, we expect the moisture issue to improve,” said Gupta.
BRS Criticizes Government Response
The Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) has criticized the Telangana Government for what it views as inadequate support for cotton farmers. “The government promised a ₹500 per quintal bonus, yet farmers are still forced to sell at lower prices,” alleged BRS Working President K.T. Rama Rao. Telangana Agriculture Minister Tummala Nageswara Rao responded, advising farmers to dry their cotton before bringing it to market.
With prices below the MSP—sometimes as low as ₹6,000-6,500 per quintal—many farmers are left in financial distress. The government has set the MSP at ₹7,121 per quintal for medium-staple cotton and ₹7,521 for long-staple cotton this season, but prices still vary based on moisture levels.
“Every procurement center has a moisture-testing machine. Farmers can measure moisture levels on-site. Of the 200 cotton trucks arriving in Adilabad on Friday, nearly 90 had high moisture content, with less than 10 percent meeting the under-12-percent standard,” added Gupta.
CCI recently issued an advisory to farmers across cotton-growing states. Traders reportedly continue quoting lower prices, citing cotton discoloration and high moisture content. Some farmers, seeing current market trends, plan to wait before selling. “I’ll wait 3-4 days and hope prices improve,” said Lakshman, a farmer with three acres of cotton.
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