Efforts on to procure discoloured cotton: Puvvada

Minister warns against unfair treatment of farmers in procurement

Khammam: Treating farmers unfairly in procurement of cotton would not be tolerated, warned Transport Minister Puvvada Ajay Kumar.

He told agriculture, CCI and marketing officials, ginning mills proprietors to work in coordination with each other to see that all the farmers who bring their produce to the markets get the minimum support price (MSP) of Rs 5,825 per quintal.

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Ajay Kumar was speaking after inaugurating a Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) procurement centre at Agriculture Market in Khammam town on Wednesday. He interacted with the farmers and tested the functioning of moisture testing equipment.

He said all required arrangements have to be made for the convenience of the farmers coming to the market with cotton produce. The CCI and private traders should ensure that the cotton is procured at MSP from farmers.

Only the required quantity of cotton has to be taken from the bags for the purpose of testing moisture content. Action will be taken if anyone is found removing large quantities of cotton to measure the moisture and market officials should focus on the issue, he said.

A total of 13 CCI centres were set up. Entire quantity which the farmers bring to the market would be procured. Farmers have to test the moisture content in cotton at the centres set up at Rythu Vedikas in the district before coming to market, Ajay Kumar advised.

Measures were being taken to procure cotton discoloured due to excessive rainfall, the Minister stated adding that he would make surprise visits to the markets and if anywhere the farmers were found to be treated unfairly action would be taken.

District Collector RV Karnan informed that with the initiative of the minister unlike other districts in the State, moisture testing centres were set up at Rythu Vedikas in 129 clusters for the convenience of the farmers.

About 2,26,130 tonnes of cotton production was expected in this season in the district, he said while directing the officials to ensure the speedy payments to the farmers. ZP Chairman L Kamalraj, DCC Bank Chairman K Nagabhushanam and others were present.

 

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