Minister for Agriculture K. Atchannaidu on Tuesday (November 25, 2025) assured cotton farmers from across Andhra Pradesh that the government will stand firmly by them and ensure that every kilogram of cotton is procured. The Minister visited the CCI procurement centres at Perecherla near Guntur and Sattenapalli to review field-level issues, including moisture readings, purchase procedures, app-related difficulties and the newly introduced L1–L4 grading system.
Mr. Atchannaidu said that unexpected rains had reduced yields and damaged quality across 5.4 lakh acres of cotton cultivation this year, making farmers vulnerable to the Cotton Corporation of India’s stringent norms. He reiterated that the government had already asked the Centre to reconsider the new grading rules, which have placed an additional burden on growers already hit by crop loss.
The Minister said that he had briefed Union Minister Ram Mohan Naidu on the situation, following which the Centre directed the CCI to accelerate procurement. The CCI has now agreed to open all mills fully from December 1, 2025, besides allowing purchase of cotton with up to 18% moisture. Additional mills will open at Perecherla and Sattenapalli to speed up operations.
