India procures 100 lakh bales under MSP by March 2025

In the 2024-25 cotton season till March 31, 2025, the government has procured 100 lakh bales of cotton equivalent to 525 lakh quintals of seed cotton under the Minimum Support Price (MSP) scheme through its nodal agency, Cotton Corporation of India Ltd. (CCI). This accounts for 38 per cent of the total cotton arrivals of 263 lakh bales and 34 per cent of the estimated total production of 294.25 lakh bales.

Telangana led the procurement drive with 40 lakh bales, followed by Maharashtra (30 lakh bales) and Gujarat (14 lakh bales). Other contributing states include Karnataka (5 lakh bales), Madhya Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh (4 lakh bales each), and Odisha (2 lakh bales). Northern states, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Punjab together contributed 1.15 lakh bales.

A total of Rs 37,450 crore has been directly paid to around 21 lakh cotton farmers through 508 procurement centers using digital platforms. Measures such as on-spot Aadhaar verification, SMS alerts, and NACH-based payments have streamlined the process.

The Cott-Ally app and QR-coded bales with blockchain integration further enhance transparency and traceability. The government affirms its continued commitment to protect cotton farmers through fair and efficient procurement.