Cotton procurement centres to open as Telangana targets MSP for farmers

Telangana has directed officials to open cotton procurement centres for the 2026-27 Kharif season, stressing minimum support prices, timely purchases and payments. The State has expanded procurement facilities and introduced digital systems to improve transparency for farmers.

Hyderabad: The State government directed officials to open cotton procurement centres for the 2026-27 Kharif marketing season. Amid concerns over price disparities between the State and other major cotton-producing regions, they were instructed to ensure farmers receive the minimum support price (MSP).
Agriculture and Marketing Minister Tummala Nageswara Rao reviewed procurement arrangements at the Secretariat on Thursday and stressed for timely purchases, prompt payments and coordination between the Marketing Department and the Cotton Corporation of India (CCI). Further, the government has called for proposals to expand cotton processing, spinning and oil industries, with a view to strengthening local demand and improving returns to farmers.

The Centre has fixed the MSP at Rs 8,667 a quintal for the current season, while the prevailing model market price in Telangana is around Rs 9,000 due to high demand and reduced production. Farmers can sell in the open market when prices are above the MSP and approach CCI centres if rates fall below it.

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Telangana cultivated cotton on 48.20 lakh acres this season, with production estimated at 29.43 lakh metric tonnes. CCI increased its procurement centres from 122 to 133. Of the State’s 356 ginning mills, 335 across 30 districts have been notified as purchase centres.

Procurement centres have been asked to ensure adequate infrastructure, quality testing, transportation and storage, besides timely payments. Officials will monitor market prices and procurement progress through State- and district-level committees. Digital systems, including the Kapas Kisan app, online payments and farmer verification, are being used to improve transparency. As of October 21, details relating to 12.75 lakh farmers had been linked to the app.

Farmers can obtain procurement and payment information through the Marketing Department’s toll-free helpline, 1800-599-5779, and WhatsApp service, 8897281111. Help desks are to be set up at market yards to address grievances. Farmers also have been advised to check cotton moisture levels and quality before bringing their produce to procurement centres as per CCI standards.