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CCI Starts Cotton Purchases in Telangana as State Seeks Looser Moisture Norms

Strict moisture limits are keeping much of the rain-hit crop outside MSP coverage.

Overview

  • CCI began procurement in Telangana on Monday, buying 1,623 tonnes from 784 farmers at the MSP of ₹8,110 per quintal through 72 ginning mills, according to state officials.
  • Telangana’s agriculture minister has formally asked the Union textiles minister to allow procurement with up to 20% moisture, and minister Komatireddy Venkat Reddy met the CCI chief seeking relaxed norms and added support.
  • CCI is currently accepting cotton with 8–12% moisture, but recent rains have pushed harvested moisture to roughly 12–20%, excluding many consignments from MSP purchases.
  • Farmer protests in Adilabad over moisture restrictions briefly stalled buying, and many growers sold to private traders at about ₹6,900–6,950 per quintal, leaving a gap of roughly ₹1,000 versus MSP.
  • States are scaling up operations with procurement centres, the Kapas Kisan app, moisture-inspection committees and field meters, and Andhra Pradesh ordered 30 centres to open from Wednesday.