44 Lakh Quintals of Cotton Procured In The State This Year Says Minister Jaykumar Rawal

As of March 18, 2025, a total of 44 lakh quintals of cotton has been procured in Maharashtra through the Cotton Corporation of India (CCI), informed Marketing Minister Jaykumar Rawal in the Legislative Council.

He was responding to a question raised by MLA Abhijit Wanjari during a short-term discussion. MLAs Sadabhau Khot, Amol Mitkari, Parinay Fuke, and Arun Lad also participated in the discussion.

Minister Rawal stated that cotton procurement centers in the state are opened through CCI, which directly purchases cotton. This year, the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for long-staple cotton is ₹7,521 per quintal, while for medium-staple cotton, it is ₹7,121 per quintal. A total of 124 procurement centers have been set up in Maharashtra for cotton purchases.

After procurement, cotton undergoes ginning and pressing, and agreements with pressing units are made from September to September. Minister Rawal clarified that cotton procurement has not been stopped.

Regarding soybean, Minister Rawal informed that around 11.21 lakh tons of soybean has been procured this year. Additionally, tur (pigeon pea), moong (green gram), urad (black gram), and chana (chickpeas) are also being purchased at MSP rates, ensuring fair prices for farmers.

The state government is committed to increasing farmers’ income, improving irrigation capacity, and enhancing irrigation infrastructure. Maharashtra is the first state in the country to implement a policy for private market committees, Minister Rawal informed the House.