Patan Afzal Babu Hyderabad

Ministerfor Agriculture, Marketing, Handlooms and Textiles Tummala Nageswara Rao directed officials on Thursday to open cotton procurement centres for the 2026-27 kharif marketing season and ensure farmers receive the minimum support price for produce.

Reviewing cotton cultivation, production estimates, market prices, and Cotton Corporation of India procurement arrangements at the Secretariat, Tummala Nageswara Rao emphasized that securing remunerative prices and preventing procurement delays remain top government priorities.

Officials reported that cotton was cultivated across 48.20 lakh acres in Telangana during the current kharif season, with total production estimated at 29.43 lakh metric tonnes. In comparison, the previous season recorded 50.73 lakh acres of cultivation and 28.33 lakh metric tonnes of yield.

Expressing concern over potential crop yield declines stemming from adverse weather conditions and nationwide El Nino impacts, the Minister stressed the absolute necessity for efficient procurement management statewide.

The Central government set the official cotton MSP at Rs 8,667 per quintal for the 2026-27 kharif season. Department officials informed Tummala Nageswara Rao that current model market prices for cotton in Telangana hover around Rs 9,000 per quintal, remaining Rs 333 higher than the mandated minimum support price.