Telangana farmers' body seeks ₹12,000 per quintal minimum cotton support price

The Telangana Rythu Sangham, a prominent farmers' organisation, has intensified calls for the government to fix the minimum support price (MSP) for cotton at ₹12,000 per quintal. The demand reflects growing concerns among cultivators over declining profitability and rising input costs that have squeezed margins across the cotton-growing regions of Telangana.

Cotton remains one of the principal cash crops for farmers across the state, with thousands of cultivators dependent on the crop for their livelihoods. The farmers' body contends that current MSP levels have failed to keep pace with production expenses, leaving many growers struggling to break even during challenging market conditions.

Telangana is among India's major cotton-producing states, and the crop supports a significant portion of the agrarian economy. The Rythu Sangham's appeal underscores persistent tensions between farmer expectations and government procurement policies, with agricultural bodies repeatedly advocating for price support mechanisms that reflect the true cost of cultivation.

The demand comes as farmers across multiple states have raised similar concerns about MSP inadequacy. Agricultural economists and farmer representatives have pointed to volatile global cotton prices and domestic production challenges as factors necessitating stronger government intervention in the cotton market.