Hyderabad: Telangana Agriculture and Marketing Minister Tummala Nageswara Rao has directed the officials concerned to ensure transparent and hassle-free procurement of cotton during the 2026-27 season, stressing that farmers must receive the Minimum Support Price (MSP) without interference from middlemen. Cotton cultivation in Telangana is projected at around 46.33 lakh acres this season, with an estimated production of 25.85 lakh metric tonnes. The Centre has fixed an MSP of Rs.8,667 per quintal for Long Staple Cotton, Rs.557 higher than the previous year. Tummala warned that farmers should not be forced to sell their produce below the MSP and asked officials to prevent a recurrence of irregularities flagged during earlier procurement seasons. The Minister directed officials to operationalise mills across all categories and districts based on requirements, preferably within 15 to 30 days, to ensure timely procurement and avoid inconvenience to farmers.