In a strong response to the state’s procurement drive, more than 3.25 lakh cotton farmers in Maharashtra have registered to sell their produce at the Minimum Support Price (MSP) of ₹8,110 per quintal for the current cotton marketing season. The registrations have been facilitated through the government’s Kapas Kisan mobile app, developed to simplify and digitize the MSP registration process.
Officials from the Maharashtra State Cotton Federation confirmed that the overwhelming participation reflects farmers’ growing confidence in the MSP system and the government’s commitment to ensuring fair returns for their produce. The registration drive aims to ensure that no farmer is forced to sell cotton below the support price in local markets.
According to state agriculture department sources, the Kapas Kisan app has played a crucial role in streamlining the registration process, reducing paperwork, and increasing accessibility for farmers across districts. Many farmers, including those from remote cotton-growing regions such as Yavatmal, Akola, Jalgaon, and Buldhana, have successfully completed online registrations using the app.
Procurement operations are expected to begin soon at designated centers across the state. The Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) and state-level marketing agencies will jointly oversee the process to ensure timely payments and transparent transactions.
Agriculture experts have welcomed the development, noting that MSP procurement provides essential price stability in a market often influenced by global fluctuations and private traders. “The government’s digital approach has made it easier for farmers to participate in the MSP system without middlemen. This is a positive step toward empowering growers,” said an official from the Maharashtra agriculture department.
With cotton being one of Maharashtra’s major cash crops, the strong registration numbers signal both farmer awareness and trust in institutional procurement systems. The initiative is expected to bring financial security and stability to thousands of farming families as the cotton marketing season progresses.
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