Why cotton is trending in India now

Published 25 October 2026 at 7:00 pm · 10 sources · 500+ searches today

Cotton is trending in India now because harvesting and procurement have started in late October, and farmers in Telangana are seeing weaker yields than expected. Reports from Adilabad, Karimnagar and nearby districts point to drought, high temperatures and pest attacks as the main reasons, even though market prices have stayed firm.

Key facts

As of 25 October 2026, cotton procurement began in Adilabad on 22 October.
Adilabad saw about 600 quintals in 30 vehicles, vs nearly 8,000 quintals last year.
Reported CCI MSP is ₹8,667/quintal; Sangareddy market was around ₹9,500.
In Karimnagar region, yields fell from expected 10 quintals/acre to 5–6.
Farmers in Khammam saw a maximum price of ₹9,200/quintal on 22 Oct 2026.

What happened

Cotton arrivals have started in Telangana, and the early numbers are much lower than last year. In Adilabad, procurement began on 22 October 2026, with only about 600 quintals arriving in 30 vehicles, compared with nearly 8,000 quintals in 600 vehicles on 24 October 2025.

Farmers are reporting that plants dried up before harvest in some areas, with flowers and bolls dropping because of drought, unusually high temperatures and pest attacks. The problem is being discussed now because harvest and procurement make the yield loss visible in the market.

Why farmers are worried

The immediate concern is whether farmers will recover their cultivation costs. In parts of the former Karimnagar region, expected yields of around 10 quintals per acre have reportedly fallen to about 5–6 quintals, while cultivation costs are around ₹60,000 per acre.

Reports from Adilabad say farmers had expected 10–12 quintals per acre from about 4.26 lakh acres under cotton cultivation, but rain-fed fields are performing poorly. Irrigated plots with borewells or wells are in comparatively better condition.

Prices and market response

Prices are offering some relief even as output falls. The Cotton Corporation of India’s reported minimum support price is ₹8,667 per quintal, while open-market prices in Sangareddy were around ₹9,500 and prices near ₹10,000 were reported in parts of Adilabad.

Khammam also reported firm rates on 22 October 2026, with a maximum of ₹9,200 per quintal, a model price of ₹9,100 and a minimum of ₹8,500. Some farmers are choosing private traders because prices are higher or payment is quicker than at CCI centres.

What to watch next

The next key issue is how much more cotton arrives at market yards as harvesting continues through late October. If arrivals stay low, the scale of the yield loss in Telangana will become clearer.

Farmers in Medak and other districts are seeking crop-loss assessment and compensation. The weather trigger has been linked to an El Niño-related rainfall deficit, but the reports do not separately quantify how much damage came from rainfall shortage, heat or pests.

Frequently asked

Why is cotton trending in India today?

Cotton is trending because harvesting and procurement have begun in late October, and farmers in Telangana are reporting lower yields than expected. Market arrivals are being watched closely as the damage becomes visible.

What is the cotton price in Telangana now?

Reported prices are above the MSP in some markets. The CCI MSP is ₹8,667 per quintal, Sangareddy was around ₹9,500, and parts of Adilabad reportedly saw prices near ₹10,000.

How bad are cotton yields in Telangana?

In parts of the former Karimnagar region, expected yields of about 10 quintals per acre reportedly fell to 5–6 quintals. Adilabad farmers had expected 10–12 quintals per acre, but rain-fed fields are doing poorly.

Why are cotton crops damaged this season?

Reports cite drought, unusually high temperatures and pest attacks. The weather problem has been linked to an El Niño-related rainfall deficit, though the reports do not quantify each factor separately.

Sources

Researched automatically from live news and written by Simpledot's AI; facts are limited to what the sources above report as of the published time. Spot an error? Tell us.