In a decisive move to shield cotton growers from volatile market prices, the Government of India has procured a remarkable 100 lakh cotton bales under the Minimum Support Price (MSP) scheme during the 2024-25 cotton season, up to March 31, 2025. Spearheaded by the Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) under the Ministry of Textiles, this extensive procurement equals 525 lakh quintals of seed cotton and represents 38 per cent of the total market arrivals and 34 per cent of the estimated national production of 294.25 lakh bales.

Telangana led the cotton procurement drive with 40 lakh bales, followed by Maharashtra with 30 lakh and Gujarat with 14 lakh. Other contributing states include Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, and Odisha. In the northern belt, states like Haryana, Rajasthan, and Punjab together accounted for over one lakh bales. The total value disbursed for this effort crossed Rs 374.50 billion, directly benefiting nearly 21 lakh cotton farmers across the country.

This vast procurement initiative under MSP is more than just a market buffer; it is a testament to the nation wide effort to offer farmers fair returns and safeguard them from distress selling. CCI has established 508 procurement centres to manage operations efficiently. Modernization has also played a vital role, with the introduction of Aadhaar based verification, SMS alerts for payments, and 100 per cent direct transfers via the National Automated Clearing House (NACH). The Cott-Ally mobile app, accessible in nine regional languages, empowers farmers with real-time updates on MSP rates, procurement points, and payment status. Further enhancing transparency, all cotton bales procured are tagged with QR codes using Blockchain technology for complete traceability.

Through this well-structured approach, the Government reaffirms its unwavering commitment to uplifting India cotton farmers and strengthening the rural economy.