Tummala Nageswara Rao, Minister of Agriculture has urged the Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) to persist with cotton procurement in Telangana due to the significant surplus of the crop among farmers.
During the 2023-24 kharif season, farmers cultivated cotton across 44.92 lakh acre, yielding an estimated 25.02 lakh tons. CCI, in collaboration with the State government, established 285 cotton purchase centers, acquiring 12.31 lakh tons valued at Rs 8,569.13 crore from over 5.36 lakh farmers at the minimum support price. Private traders procured an additional 4.97 lakh tonnes from farmers.
As the third picking of cotton progresses in some districts and farmers still hold quantities from previous pickings, an additional 7.1 lakh tons are anticipated from farmers. With international cotton prices remaining high due to increased demand, Rao emphasised the necessity for CCI to maintain purchasing operations.
Discontinuing CCI purchases could negatively impact market prices and detrimentally affect the farming community. In instances of lower-quality cotton arrivals, CCI may determine prices based on availability, as per established practices.
