In a significant move aimed at improving quality standards and ensuring Indian cotton meets global market requirements, the Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) has implemented a new moisture regulation for cotton procurement. According to the revised guidelines, the state-run agency will reject any cotton with a moisture content exceeding 12% and will only accept stock with moisture levels below 8%.
This decision has posed considerable challenges for Indian cotton farmers, industry experts warn that the new policy could disrupt the supply chain and severely impact farmers and traders unless immediate investments are made in drying and storage infrastructure. Moisture content plays a crucial role in determining the quality and durability of cotton, particularly during storage and transit.
“This step will help ensure Indian cotton meets global standards,” said CCI and emphasized the importance of quality assurance to enhance buyer confidence in Indian cotton.
However, the outcomes of the new moisture policy are already being felt by farmers. Ramesh Patel, a cotton farmer from Maharashtra, expressed his concern, “We don’t have the necessary infrastructure to reduce moisture levels in cotton. If CCI rejects our produce, we could face massive losses.”
In Kurnool district, cotton cultivation spans approximately 1.97 lakh hectares, with an average yield of 7.41 quintals per acre, translating to an estimated total yield of 3.72 lakh metric tons.
By the end of December last year, CCI had purchased 3.24 lakh quintals of cotton from about 14,000 farmers, amounting to ₹240 crore in purchases. Despite these numbers, farmers are struggling to sell their entire harvest at fair prices. “If a farmer has 20 quintals, only 8 quintals are bought by CCI, while the rest are sold in the open market at a much lower price,” lamented a farmer from the region.
Out of an estimated 4 lakh metric tons of cotton harvested, the CCI has so far procured 3.25 lakh quintals. Procurement activities have been initiated in 15 ginning mills under the Mantralayam, Adoni, Yemmiganur, and Kodumur agricultural market committees in Kurnool district. Despite these efforts, the lack of adequate drying and storage facilities remains a major bottleneck. Industry experts have noted that while the CCI’s decision aims to align Indian cotton with global standards, its success depends on addressing challenges at the grassroots level.
