Union Coal and Mines Minister G. Kishan Reddy has announced that the Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) will begin cotton procurement in Telangana from 21st of this month, after Diwali, at 122 centres across the state. He urged farmers to locate their nearest procurement centre and book time slots through the Kapas Kisan app to avoid delays and inconvenience. Speaking to the media after a review meeting with CCI officials, the Union Minister encouraged farmers to seek assistance from agriculture officers and progressive farmers for slot booking to reduce waiting times.

 

 

He stressed the importance of ensuring that cotton moisture levels do not exceed 12 per cent to be eligible for the Minimum Support Price (MSP). He said the Kapas Kisan app, available in nine Indian languages, offers complete details of procurement centres and ginning mills. He also cautioned farmers against middlemen, highlighting that the app promotes transparency and helps prevent exploitation. Mr Reddy further stated that the MSP for long-staple cotton has been increased to 8,110 rupees per quintal, compared to 4,050 rupees in 2014. He noted that the Central government has spent 58,000 crore rupees in Telangana over the last decade to support cotton procurement.

 

 

Highlighting Telangana’s growth as India’s top cotton-producing state, the Minister said cotton cultivation now spans 45.34 lakh acres, involving over 22 lakh farmers. He urged the adoption of high-density plantation techniques, citing the successful model in Akola, Maharashtra, and instructed agriculture and CCI officials to organise farmer training visits to promote best practices.