Maharashtra Procures 106.99 Lakh Quintals Cotton at MSP, Says Minister

The Maharashtra government has procured 106.99 lakh quintals of cotton worth ₹8,497 crore at the Minimum Support Price (MSP) till February 16 in the ongoing 2025–26 season, State Minister Jaykumar Rawal informed the Assembly on Friday.

In a written reply, Rawal said the procurement benefited 5,02,598 farmers and was carried out through the Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) , the nodal agency under the Union Textiles Ministry.

The MSP, announced annually by the Centre on the recommendation of the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP) , acts as a price guarantee to protect farmers from distress sales when market rates fall. While MSP is uniform across India , procurement levels vary among states depending on production and market conditions.

Dismissing allegations of technical glitches in the ‘Kapas Kisan’ mobile application used for slot booking, particularly in Jalna district, the minister termed the claims “false”. He said 7.20 lakh farmers have successfully registered on the app and no complaints have been received by the CCI regarding technical issues.

Rawal also rejected allegations of malpractice at procurement centres, stating that cotton meeting prescribed quality standards is purchased strictly as per Government of India guidelines . Cotton failing to meet these standards is not eligible for procurement.

For the 2025–26 cotton season, 168 procurement centres were opened across Maharashtra. Procurement is based on the average yield estimate of 9.58 quintals per acre issued by the Agriculture Commissionerate, Pune. Farmers producing higher yields may submit certification from local authorities to sell additional quantities at MSP.

The minister further said that despite the temporary removal of 11 per cent import duty on cotton between October 1 and December 31, 2025, farmers did not suffer losses, noting that CCI procured 74.86 lakh quintals worth ₹5,937.85 crore during that period alone.