Farmers urge PM to roll back CCI’s cotton restrictions

A prominent farmers’ organisation has appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to intervene and direct the Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) to withdraw what it calls “restrictive and punitive” procurement rules that are worsening the distress of cotton growers in Maharashtra and Telangana.In a letter to the Prime Minister, Council for Protection of Farmers Rights–Kisan Bharti (CPFR-Kisan Bharti) President Barrister Vinod Tiwari said the CCI’s recent decision to reduce the procurement cap from 13 quintals per acre to 7 quintals per acre has forced lakhs of farmers to sell the bulk of their harvest to private traders at significantly lower prices.
Calling the cut “bizarre and unjustified,” Tiwari said the cap—introduced after yield assessments for the current Kharif season—has compelled farmers to offload nearly 80% of their cotton at around ₹6,500 per quintal or even less, far below the Minimum Support Price (MSP) of ₹8,110 per quintal. Those producing more than 5 quintals per acre, he added, are the worst hit, as they cannot sell their entire yield to CCI and are left with no choice but to turn to private buyers offering depressed rates.Tiwari also criticised the CCI’s moisture-content norms, which mandate a strict 8–12% range for procurement. Given the foggy conditions, intermittent rains and falling winter temperatures, he said natural moisture levels in cotton frequently exceed 20%, even after farmers dry the produce in the open for days. As a result, large quantities are rejected at CCI centres, adding further pressure on growers.
Highlighting the ground situation, CPFR-Kisan Bharti noted that in Yavatmal district alone, 236,752 farmers cultivated cotton across 825,932 acres, producing approximately 3.3 million quintals. However, CCI has procured only 7,921 quintals so far, while private traders have purchased around 115,000 quintals at low rates — a stark contrast to expectations of MSP support.The organisation said farmers feel the existing rules are “driving them straight into the hands of private traders,” who exploit the situation to buy cotton at bargain prices. Compounding the problem, of the 27 procurement centres announced by CCI, only a limited number are operational, leading to long queues, higher transport costs and logistical challenges.CPFR-Kisan Bharti has urged the government to immediately increase the procurement limit to at least 12 quintals per acre, relax the moisture-content requirement to 22% in view of natural weather conditions, and open more procurement centres to ease the burden on farmers.As the CCI is the designated nodal agency for MSP operations, Tiwari said it must safeguard farmers’ interests rather than penalise them for issues beyond their control. He urged the Prime Minister to intervene urgently, warning that prolonged delays may push distressed farmers toward extreme steps.