AP Cotton Growers Anticipate Prices of Rs 9,000–Rs 10,000/Quintal Amid Supply Constraints

Amaravati, Oct 23 (KNN) Cotton farmers in Andhra Pradesh are expecting prices of Rs 9,000–Rs 10,000 per quintal this season amid concerns over potential production losses linked to El Niño-related weather conditions and increased early buying interest from traders.

Farmers expect market prices to remain above the Centre’s minimum support price (MSP) if lower output tightens supplies. The MSP for the 2026-27 season has been fixed at Rs 8,267 per quintal for medium-staple cotton and Rs 8,667 per quintal for long-staple varieties,TOI reported.

During the previous season, some farmers reportedly sold cotton for Rs 4,000–Rs 5,000 per quintal, below the applicable MSP. 

Farmers attributed the distress sales partly to technical problems with the Cotton Corporation of India’s (CCI) procurement system, including difficulties with registration, slot booking and discrepancies in online records.
A woman farmer from Karampudi in Palnadu district said growers were hoping for better prices this season to recover cultivation costs and improve their returns.

Traders have begun approaching cotton-growing villages to secure stocks ahead of the harvest, anticipating lower arrivals due to weather-related risks. However, the extent of any production shortfall remains uncertain.

The CCI is preparing for procurement operations at MSP. Farmers have urged the agency to address last season’s technical issues and ensure that registration and procurement procedures do not prevent eligible growers from selling their produce at the support price.

Weather conditions over the next two months will be important for crop yields and fibre quality, with prolonged dry spells and unseasonal rainfall posing potential risks.

(KNN Bureau)