**Executive Summary**
The Ministry of Textiles has extended the cotton procurement deadline in Maharashtra from February 28, 2026, to March 15, 2026, to ensure farmers can access the Minimum Support Price (MSP) scheme. The Cotton Corporation of India (CCI), acting as the Central Nodal Agency, has expanded its procurement network to 168 centres across 21 districts to manage an estimated production of 72.66 lakh bales. Key initiatives include the launch of the "KapasKisan App" for digital registration and the establishment of Local Monitoring Committees.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Procurement Operations and Extension**
* The procurement deadline for cotton in Maharashtra was extended to March 15, 2026, following a state request to support remaining farmers.
* CCI serves as the Central Nodal Agency responsible for nationwide MSP operations under the Ministry of Textiles.
* The procurement network in Maharashtra was expanded from 128 centres in 2024–25 to 168 centres across 21 districts (Akola and Aurangabad branches) for the 2025–26 season.
* Total cotton production in Maharashtra for the 2025–26 season was estimated at 72.66 lakh bales.
**MSP Rates and Trends**
* **2025-26 Rates:** Medium Staple cotton MSP is Rs. 7,710 per quintal (8.27% increase); Long Staple cotton MSP is Rs. 8,110 per quintal (7.83% increase).
* **Historical Context:** In the 2022-23 season, no MSP support was required as market prices remained above the government-set MSP.
* **Procurement Volume (as of 16.03.2026):** For the 2025-26 season, CCI purchased 2,797,641 bales valued at approximately Rs. 1,088,253 lakhs, benefiting 647,401 farmers.
**Farmer-Centric Initiatives**
* Introduction of the “KapasKisan App” to facilitate self-registration and slot booking.
* Provision of real-time updates via SMS alerts and dedicated helplines.
* Formation of Local Monitoring Committees and extensive awareness campaigns to ensure smooth operations and safeguard interests.
**Impact Analysis**
**Cotton Farmers**
**Impact:** Farmers receive an extended window to sell their produce at guaranteed rates and benefit from digital tools that simplify the registration and booking process.
**Action Required:** Farmers should use the KapasKisan App for self-registration and slot booking to sell their remaining stock before the extended deadline.
**Cotton Corporation of India (CCI)**
**Impact:** Tasked with managing a significantly larger network of 168 procurement centres and implementing new technological infrastructure for real-time tracking.
**Action Required:** Must coordinate with the Ministry to oversee expanded operations, manage SMS alert systems, and facilitate Local Monitoring Committees.
**State Government of Maharashtra**
**Impact:** Facilitated price protection for its agricultural sector by requesting the extension and declaring district-wise yields.
**Action Required:** Continue to declare district-wise yields as per prescribed guidelines to enable CCI procurement.
Key Entities Referenced
Cotton Corporation of India (CCI): The Central Nodal Agency under the Ministry of Textiles responsible for undertaking cotton procurement operations under the MSP scheme.
Minimum Support Price (MSP): The government-mandated price scheme used to procure cotton from farmers to ensure fair returns and safeguard their interests.
State of Maharashtra: The primary location of applicability where cotton procurement deadlines were extended and detailed district-wise operations were conducted.
Committee on Cotton Production and Consumption (COCPC): A committee whose production estimates and market arrivals data drive the government's cotton procurement strategy.
KapasKisan App: A digital initiative introduced by the CCI for farmer self-registration and slot booking to facilitate smooth procurement operations.
Ministry of Textiles
EXTENSION OF COTTON PROCUREMENT BY
CCI
Posted On: 27 MAR 2026 2:58PM by PIB Delhi
All cotton offered by farmers at the MSP rates is procured as per prescribed guidelines and district-wise
yield declared by the state. On the request of the state, the last date of procurement in the State of
Maharashtra was extended from 28.02.2026 to 15.03.2026 to enable remaining farmers to take advantage
of MSP scheme.
Statement showing MSP rates of cotton, along with year-wise and district-wise quantity of cotton procured
by the Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) in the State of Maharashtra during the last three years, is
enclosed below.
With regard to the quantity of cotton remaining unsold with farmers, it is stated that, as per the meeting of
the Committee on Cotton Production and Consumption (COCPC) held on 08.12.2025, cotton production
in Maharashtra was estimated at 72.66 lakh bales based on the First Advance Estimates of the Ministry of
Agriculture. Further, as per market information, almost the entire amount of cotton has already arrived in
the markets in the State.
To ensure that the benefits of MSP reach a larger section of cotton farmers, CCI has been appointed as the
Central Nodal Agency under the Ministry of Textiles for undertaking MSP operations across the country,
including Maharashtra. In coordination with the Ministry, CCI expanded the State's procurement network
to 168 centres across 21 districts, under its Akola and Aurangabad branches, up from 128 in 2024–25,
ensuring wider coverage of cotton-growing areas. In the 2025–26 cotton season, CCI has introduced
several farmer-centric initiatives, including the “KapasKisan App” for self-registration and slot booking,
SMS alerts for real-time updates, extensive awareness campaigns, and Local Monitoring Committees and
helplines to ensure smooth procurement operations and safeguard farmers’ interests.
Statement showing MSP rates of cotton, as declared by the Govt. of India during the last three
cotton seasons and current year:
Cotton Medium Staple (Staple length 24.5 mm Long Staple (Staple length 29.5 mm -30.5
Season -25.5 mm &Miconaire 4.3 - 5.1) mm &Miconaire 3.5 - 4.3)
MSP rate Increase in MSP MSP rate Increase in MSP
(Rs./Quintal) (Rs./Quintal)
Rs./Quintal % Rs./Quintal %
2022-23 6,080 354 6.18% 6,380 355 5.89%2023-24 6,620 540 8.88% 7,020 640 10.03%
2024-25 7,121 501 7.57% 7,521 501 7.14%
2025-26 7,710 589 8.27% 8,110 589 7.83%
Statement showing District-wise details of MSP operation of Cotton in the State of Maharashtra
during the Cotton Season 2025-26:
(as on 16.03.2026)
Sr. Branch District Progressive Purchase in Value No. Of
No. Bales Farmers
(in ₹
lakhs)
1 Akola Branch Akola 378527 147183 76737
2 Amravati 365455 143029 76188
3 Buldhana 146025 56089 34863
4 Chandrapur 282786 111272 59740
5 Gadchiroli 10832 4225 2597
6 Nagpur 47017 18379 10290
7 Wardha 121774 47494 31536
8 Washim 35131 13662 9034
9 Yavatmal 415497 162808 11396710 Aurangabad Ahmednagar 51709 20017 16949
Branch
11 Aurangabad 106939 41254 26576
12 Beed 116482 44710 24087
13 Dhule 89541 34768 17783
14 Hingoli 28995 11255 10105
15 Jalgaon 128115 49743 27745
16 Jalna 168680 65196 31646
17 Latur 1690 649 423
18 Nanded 42228 16285 13360
19 Nandurbar 61522 23837 15607
20 Nashik 261 103 50
21 Parbhani 198435 76295 48118
Total 2797641 1088253 647401
Statement showing District-wise details of MSP operation of Cotton in the State of Maharashtra
during the Cotton Season 2024-25:
Sr. Branch District Progressive Purchase Value (in ₹ No. Of
No. in Bales lakhs) Farmers1 Akola Branch Akola 453767 165322 83838
2 Amravati 270183 97322 57235
3 Buldhana 181668 66309 33999
4 Chandrapur 242167 88664 56214
5 Gadchiroli 5014 1824 1145
6 Nagpur 30697 11428 7309
7 Wardha 168683 61738 43741
8 Washim 30048 11128 6804
9 Yavatmal 427865 156583 110367
10 Aurangabad Ahmednagar 59553 21750 14644
Branch
11 Aurangabad 145888 53134 27320
12 Beed 138722 50062 26745
13 Dhule 76455 27750 13149
14 Hingoli 36596 13447 9549
15 Jalgaon 95774 34763 16500
16 Jalna 177797 64589 30079
17 Nanded 58974 21537 15413
18 Nandurbar 61334 22244 14271
19 Parbhani 279966 101834 58944
Total 2941151 1071429 627266
Statement showing District-wise details of MSP operation of Cotton in the State of Maharashtra
during the Cotton Season 2023-24:Sr. Branch District Progressive Purchase Value (in ₹ No. Of
No. in Bales lakhs) Farmers
1 Akola Branch Akola 62000 21391 11042
2 Amravati 10619 3648 2566
3 Buldhana 20875 7196 4293
4 Chandrapur 21985 7519 4406
5 Nagpur 7224 2535 1539
6 Wardha 7638 2606 2162
7 Washim 7889 2738 1664
8 Yavatmal 20730 7179 4872
9 Aurangabad Ahmednagar 113 38 25
Branch
10 Aurangabad 1444 483 329
11 Beed 916 318 205
12 Dhule 5222 1747 816
13 Hingoli 1109 376 362
14 Jalgaon 16702 5702 3085
15 Jalna 29622 10127 4828
16 Nanded 14774 5025 3918
17 Nandurbar 796 272 230
18 Parbhani 14441 4908 3220
Total 244099 83809 49562
Note: During Cotton Season 2022-23, Market prices of cotton were ruling above MSP. Hence, no MSP
support was required by farmers.This information was provided by THE MINISTER FOR TEXTILES SHRI GIRIRAJ SINGH in a written
reply to a question in Rajya Sabha on 20th March 2026.
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