BRS ready to go to Delhi over Telangana cotton crisis, says KTR

BRS working president KT Rama Rao urged all political parties to jointly pressure the Centre over Telangana’s escalating cotton crisis, criticising both the Union and State governments for failing farmers. He demanded scrapping the Kapas app, higher CCI procurement limits and immediate compensation for crop losses

Hyderabad: Stating that the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) was ready to go to Delhi along with all political parties to press the Centre on the cotton crisis and broader farm sector issues in Telangana, BRS working president KT Rama Rao on Tuesday asserted that there should be no politics when it comes to farmers.

Speaking after submitting a detailed representation to Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) officials in Adilabad along with senior party leaders, he appealed to Union Ministers G Kishan Reddy and Bandi Sanjay Kumar, as well as local BJP MPs and MLAs, to join hands and pressurise the Centre.

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Slamming the Centre and the State government for betraying cotton farmers, he said the Centre was signing import agreements even as domestic farmers suffered, while the State government was failing to conduct proper crop damage surveys or release promised compensation.

Demanding immediate scrapping of the controversial Kapas mobile app, which he called a ‘complete disaster’, and restore the old direct procurement system at market yards, Rama Rao also wanted the CCI purchase limit to be raised from 7 quintals to at least 13 quintals per acre besides relaxation of the strict 8–12 per cent moisture rule that has slashed farmer realisations by nearly Rs 3,000 per quintal this season, and proper implementation of PM Fasal Bima Yojana apart from Rs 20,000 per acre compensation for rain-damaged crops.

The former Minister revealed that CCI, which normally procures five lakh quintals by this time every season, had managed less than one lakh quintals this year, leaving farmers at the mercy of private traders who have largely shut operations. He also highlighted the plight of farmers in the State, stating that over 700 farmers had died by suicide in the last two years of Congress rule in Telangana.

The BRS also announced full support for the all-party national highway blockade called by Adilabad farmers on November 21 and urged its cadres to participate in large numbers.

“In areas like Jainath and Bela, farmers are harvesting 15–18 quintals per acre. If CCI buys only seven quintals, where will the remaining crop go?” he asked.

Due to heavy rains and record low temperatures, cotton grown in black soil naturally has higher moisture this season.

“During the previous BRS regime, cotton with even 20–22 per cent moisture was procured without issue. Today, because of the rigid rules, farmers who should get Rs 8,110 per quintal are receiving only Rs 5,000–Rs 6,200, a loss of nearly Rs 3,000 per quintal,” he pointed out.