During current cotton season 2020-21 (Oct 1, 2020 to Sept 30, 2021), Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) has opened over 450 procurement centres in all cotton growing states across the country. The corporation has procured 91.89 lakh bales so far (equivalent to around 482 lakh quintals kapas) and disbursed Rs.26,700 crores to around 19 lakh cotton farmers.

CCI continued its procurement of cotton under MSP operations since the beginning of the current season to avoid the eventuality of distress sale by farmers, minister of state for textiles Darshana Jardosh said in a written reply to Lok Sabha.

In cotton season 2019-20, CCI had opened 423 procurement centres in 12 cotton growing states to safeguard the cotton farmers from distress sales. During the pandemic, CCI procured 20.72 lakh bales valuing Rs.5,615 crore from 4 lakh cotton farmers. However, during the entire cotton season 2019-20, CCI made a record procurement of 105.15 lakh bales (equivalent to around 546.80 lakh quintals kapas) and an amount of Rs.28,500 crores was disbursed to around 21.50 lakh cotton farmers directly into their bank accounts.