Archive · 17 Nov 2025
Cotton Industry Halts Over CCI's Grading, Moisture Norms
Cotton factories in India have stopped working because they are upset with how the Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) is organizing things.
The CCI has started rating the factories and using a special app to decide which factories get to buy cotton.
Farmers are also upset because the CCI is very strict about how much water is in the cotton they buy.
Because of this, farmers are forced to sell their cotton to other buyers for much less money than the government's promised price.
Some farmers are finding it hard to dry their cotton because of the weather.
Cotton ginning factories across the state have shut down to protest against the Cotton Corporation of India's (CCI) grading system and the Kapas Kisan App.
Factory owners demand removal of CCI's grading system and equal cotton allocation.
Farmers protest CCI's moisture content norms, leading to low prices from private traders.
Adilabad cotton market remained closed, with no cotton purchases carried out.
Farmers face difficulties drying cotton due to weather conditions, exacerbating financial difficulties.
- Who
- Owners of cotton ginning factories and farmers in the state, protesting against the Cotton Corporation of India (CCI).
- What
- Ginning factories across the state have shut down in protest against the CCI's grading system for factories and its implementation of the Kapas Kisan App. Farmers are also protesting CCI's procurement restrictions on moisture content.
- When
- Operations were suspended from Monday, with the Adilabad cotton market remaining closed.
- Where
- Across the state, with specific mention of Adilabad district.
- Why
- Factory owners protest the CCI's grading system which benefits L1 factories and demands equal cotton allocation. Farmers are distressed by low prices from private traders due to CCI's strict moisture content rules, which hinder drying.
Ginning Factory Owners
Cotton Corporation of India (CCI)
Factory Grading System
Ginning Factory Owners
Demand the removal of the CCI's grading system (L1-L8) for ginning factories and equal allocation of cotton to all categories.
Cotton Corporation of India (CCI)
Grades factories based on machinery modernity and labor employed, allocating preferential purchasing slots to L1 factories.
Kapas Kisan App Allocation
Ginning Factory Owners
Protest the Kapas Kisan App's system primarily allocating cotton to L1 factories, leading to lost business for other categories.
Cotton Corporation of India (CCI)
Utilizes the Kapas Kisan App for booking purchase slots, which currently favors L1 factories.
Moisture Content Norms
Ginning Factory Owners
Farmers struggle with CCI's strict moisture content norm of 8-12%, as weather conditions make drying difficult, leading to lower prices from private traders.
Cotton Corporation of India (CCI)
Restricts cotton procurement to a maximum of 12% moisture content.
- Issue
- Ginning factories shut down due to protest against CCI grading and Kapas Kisan App system.
- Protesting Parties
- Cotton ginning factory owners, farmers
- CCI Procurement Norms
- Maximum 7 quintals per acre, moisture content 8-12%
- Farmers' Grievance
- Receiving less than ₹6,000 per quintal from private traders (below MSP of ₹8,110) due to CCI's restrictions.
- Factory Grading
- Based on machinery modernity and labor employed; L1 factories prioritized.
- Number of Ginning Factories in Adilabad
- 18 (including Markfed)
