The Centre has launched ₹600 crore “Kapas Kranti Mission” to promote high-yield, long-staple cotton cultivation through scientific research, technological innovation, and extension services. Farmers in Maharashtra, particularly in the Akola region, have adopted High-Density Plantation (HDP) methods, significantly increasing yields.
The plan is to replicate these practices in suitable regions of Telangana by taking farmers to Maharashtra to witness these methods first-hand, supply them with appropriate seeds, and motivate them to adopt HDP techniques. A post-harvest exposure visit to Akola is also being planned for the farmers to observe successful HDP practices, informed Union Minister of Coal & Mines G. Kishan Reddy on Friday.
With regard to the current cotton procurement, Mr. Reddy told a press conference that currently around 24 lakh farmers in Telangana are engaged in cotton cultivation, making the State the top cotton producer in India. From October 21 to 24, agriculture and marketing officials will conduct a five-day awareness drive across villages to promote the app and procurement process.
About 122 procurement centres are set to open post-Diwali. Committees led by District Collectors and comprising officials, police, revenue officers, and farmer representatives have been established at each procurement centre to address grievances and prevent exploitation, he said.
A dedicated mobile application, “Kapas Kisan App,” will also be launched to facilitate slot booking and streamline the selling process for farmers. The Minister urged farmers to use the app which will go ‘live’ post Diwali enabling farmers to book slots for selling their produce to schedule their sales and avoid middlemen, ensuring fair prices and transparency.
Awareness campaigns are being conducted through pamphlets, social media, WhatsApp groups, and videos in nine languages. Advertisements in newspapers also provide details on acceptable moisture levels and corresponding prices. Agriculture officers are also visiting villages to assist farmers with app registration and distribute informational materials. Tech-savvy rural youth are also helping fellow farmers navigate the digital platform to ensure smooth implementation, he said.
A total of 345 ginning centres have been notified in Telangana, with agreements finalized with CCI - Cotton Corporation of India. Slot booking awareness is being promoted at the village level by agriculture officers, panchayat officials, and progressive farmers.
A review meeting was held with CCI officials from Adilabad, Warangal, and Mahbubnagar, along with Telangana’s agriculture and cooperative department officers and the issues raised during the will be escalated to the Ministry of Textiles and CCI headquarters for resolution, he said.
The Centre, between 2004 and 2014, procured 173 lakh bales of cotton worth ₹24,825 crore through CCI. In contrast, from 2014 to 2024, procurement rose to 473 lakh bales, with an expenditure of ₹1.37 lakh crore — a testament to the Centre’s enhanced support under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, he said.
Over the past decade, the Centre has doubled the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for cotton. In Telangana and Andhra Pradesh alone, the Centre has spent ₹65,000 crore on cotton procurement over the past decade — ₹58,000 crore in Telangana and ₹8,000 crore in Andhra Pradesh, said Mr. Reddy.
The Minister claimed strict action is being taken against ginning mills and middlemen involved in malpractice. The government is also cracking down on counterfeit seeds, with several companies and dealerships already penalized. Offenders are being booked under the PD Act, and licenses are being revoked, he added.
