25% cotton still unsold, Yavatmal farmers fear price crash

Yavatmal: With nearly 25% cotton stock still lying at the doorsteps of farmers and traders, concerns are mounting over a possible price crash if the Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) discontinues procurement after February 27.Thousands of farmers had registered and booked slots with CCI in hopes of securing better prices than those offered in the private market. So far, CCI has procured 15,74,462.4 quintals of cotton in the district. However, a significant portion of the produce remains unsold. With only a week left before the procurement deadline, anxiety among farmers has intensified.
Yavatmal has traditionally been a major cotton-producing district. This year, cotton was cultivated on nearly five lakh hectares. After suffering severe losses during the 2024-25 season, many farmers were left financially devastated, with little capital to invest in the next crop cycle. Despite this, they borrowed money at high interest rates to continue farming rather than leaving their fields fallow.Excessive rainfall during the Kharif 2025 season destroyed cotton crops across thousands of hectares. In several parts of the district, yields dropped drastically. Cotton that usually reaches markets by Dussehra arrived at farmers' homes only around Diwali. As a result, many farmers were compelled to sell their produce to private traders at Rs7,200 per quintal, incurring a loss of nearly Rs800 per quintal compared to the expected rate.Recognising the losses in the private market, farmers registered for CCI procurement, where the price was fixed at Rs8,100 per quintal. However, stringent conditions and procedural hurdles reportedly forced many to sell their cotton to private traders. Several farmers who booked slots with CCI are yet to receive confirmation.With only days remaining for procurement to end, farmers fear that CCI may not be able to purchase the remaining stock in time. If procurement stops, they may once again be forced to sell at lower rates in the private market. Overall, there is apprehension that cotton prices could decline sharply if CCI withdraws from procurement.Bala Nival, a farmers' union leader, stated that unseasonal rains persisted late into the season, and cotton picking is still underway in some areas. He has urged the district's guardian minister to extend the CCI procurement deadline to prevent further financial distress for farmers.