New Delhi: The government has established 550 cotton procurement centres — the highest ever — operational across all 11 cotton-growing regions. This initiative ensures better accessibility for farmers and enhances logistical efficiency during peak arrivals.
To align procurement activities with regional crop readiness, the operations are scheduled as follows:
– Northern Zone (Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan): from October 1
– Central Zone (Gujarat, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha): from October 15
– Southern Zone (Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu): from October 21
In a decisive move to ensure robust preparedness ahead of the Kharif Cotton Season 2025–26, Neelam Shami Rao, Secretary of the Ministry of Textiles, led a comprehensive review of Minimum Support Price (MSP) operations. The meeting included key officials from all cotton-growing states, the Cotton Corporation of India Ltd. (CCI), and the Ministry of Textiles.
The ministry stated, “Her intervention reflects the Ministry’s commitment to transparent, efficient, and farmer-centric procurement mechanisms.”
Recognizing cotton as a critical sector for millions of farmers, the ministry is steering the national strategy to ensure hassle-free procurement, timely payments, and digital inclusion.
During the meeting, clear guidelines were established, and states were urged to ensure complete alignment with MSP operational norms.
The ‘Kapas-Kisaan’ app has been introduced to enable self-registration of farmers, 7-day rolling slot booking, and real-time payment tracking. All states have been advised to carry out extensive awareness campaigns to maximize farmer registration and app utilization.
Farmers are encouraged to complete their registration on the app by October 31 to avail MSP benefits. Existing users on state platforms in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Madhya Pradesh, and Haryana are advised to verify their records on the mobile app, according to the ministry.
The government reiterated its commitment to full digitization and financial inclusion. Payments will be made directly to Aadhaar-linked bank accounts via NACH, with SMS alerts sent at every stage — from bill generation to payment confirmation.
To ensure close oversight, Local Monitoring Committees (LMCs) have been constituted at each procurement centre. Additionally, CCI has introduced dedicated WhatsApp helplines to swiftly address farmer concerns.
All eligible cotton farmers are strongly advised to register promptly and leverage these digital tools to avoid distress sales.
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