Sun Nov 09 03:51:03 UTC 2025: News Article:

Telangana Government Urges CCI to Ease Restrictions on Cotton Procurement

Hyderabad – November 9, 2025 – Facing mounting pressure from cotton farmers, the Telangana state government has appealed to the Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) to relax stringent procurement rules. Minister for Agriculture Tummala Nageswara Rao, along with Director of Agriculture B. Gopi, held a telephonic discussion with CCI Chairman and Managing Director Lalit Kumar Gupta on Saturday to address the concerns.

Key issues raised included the current 12% maximum moisture content limit and the restriction of procuring only 7 quintals of cotton per acre at the minimum support price (MSP). The Minister argued that these restrictions are particularly burdensome given the prolonged rainy season this year, and that the average yield in Telangana justifies a higher procurement limit.

Specifically, Rao requested that the CCI increase the allowable moisture content to 20% and raise the procurement limit to 12 quintals per acre, closer to the state’s assessed average yield of 11.74 quintals. He also highlighted the restricted access to the Kapas Kisan App, available only after 10 p.m. daily, and requested round-the-clock access for farmers to register their details.

Minister Rao further informed the CCI chief that the state government has already brought these concerns to the attention of the central government, with Agriculture Secretary K. Surendra Mohan expected to further address the matter with central authorities if necessary.

According to the Agriculture Department, cotton was cultivated on approximately 47.84 lakh acres this kharif season, with an estimated production of 30 lakh tonnes. The Minister also assured that the state has a healthy buffer stock of urea, with 1.5 lakh tonnes currently available and another 2 lakh tonnes expected to arrive this month.

The government’s move underscores the growing urgency to address the concerns of cotton farmers and ensure a fair and efficient procurement process in the state.

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