Union Minister Plans 550 Cotton Procurement Centres for Farmers
New Initiatives for Cotton Farmers
New Delhi, September 3: Union Minister for Textiles, Giriraj Singh, has announced the establishment of 550 procurement centres across the country aimed at purchasing cotton from farmers at the minimum support price (MSP) for the upcoming kharif marketing season, which begins on October 1.
The minister emphasized the government's commitment to safeguarding the interests of cotton growers by ensuring they receive fair prices for their crops while promoting a digitally advanced cotton ecosystem, as stated in an official announcement made on Wednesday.
During a high-level review meeting attended by Neelam Shami Rao, Secretary of Textiles, and other senior officials from the Ministry of Textiles and the Cotton Corporation of India, the minister evaluated the readiness for MSP operations for cotton in the forthcoming Kharif marketing season 2025–26, starting October 1.
Standardized guidelines have been established for the creation of procurement centres, taking into account essential factors such as the area dedicated to cotton farming, the presence of operational APMC yards, and at least one stock processing facility at each procurement centre.
Consequently, a record number of 550 procurement centres will be operational in key cotton-producing regions. The procurement process under MSP will initiate on October 1 in Northern States, October 15 in Central States, and October 21 in Southern States, according to the statement.
In alignment with the Government's Digital India initiative, all procedures—from the procurement of cotton by the Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) under MSP to the sale of stocks—will now be entirely digital and paperless, thereby enhancing the confidence of farmers and stakeholders in MSP operations, the minister noted.
This season will also see the introduction of an Aadhaar-based self-registration system for cotton farmers and a seven-day rolling slot booking feature through the newly launched 'Kapas-Kisaan' mobile application.
This digital platform is designed to streamline procurement processes, ensure transparency, and facilitate direct Aadhaar-linked payments to farmers' bank accounts via the National Automated Clearing House (NACH). The SMS-based payment notification service introduced last year will also remain in effect.
To provide better on-ground assistance, Local Monitoring Committees (LMC) will be established at each APMC mandi to address grievances promptly. Furthermore, dedicated state-level helplines and a central CCI helpline will be operational throughout the procurement period. Sufficient manpower, logistical support, and other necessary infrastructure will be arranged before the cotton season begins, the statement concluded.