Cotton Prices Drop Below MSP, Worry Farmers in Haryana

13-Oct-2025 11:45 AM

Hisar. The wholesale market price of cotton in Haryana has fallen well below the Minimum Support Price (MSP) as the industry and trade sector are attempting to procure it at a lower price, citing poor quality.

The government agency, the Cotton Corporation of India (CCI), has not yet resumed its operations in the markets, leaving farmers with no option but to sell their produce at significantly lower prices.

It is noteworthy that, like Punjab and Rajasthan, heavy rains and floods in some areas of Haryana also damaged the cotton crop.

Farmers had hoped to recover their costs by selling their produce at a good price, but this hope is being dashed by the low market prices.

Cotton prices in most markets are hovering around Rs. 6,000 per quintal, well below the minimum support price of Rs. 7,710 per quintal.

Farmers are already deeply disappointed by the crop damage caused by floods and rains, and now the weak market prices have compounded their woes.

Buyers say that the cotton currently arriving in the markets is of low quality and its moisture content is significantly higher than the approved level.

The Central Government has set the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for cotton with a 27 mm long fiber at Rs. 7,860 per quintal and the support price for high-quality cotton with a 28 mm fiber at Rs. 8,910 per quintal, but farmers are being forced to sell their produce at prices much lower than this.

Meanwhile, CCI officials say that cotton procurement from farmers at the minimum support price will commence soon.

It is true that the recent rains have affected the quality of the cotton, which has a higher moisture content.

Discussions are underway with the state government and millers to supply the purchased cotton to ginning mills. This year, cotton has been cultivated on approximately 380,000 hectares in Haryana.