Farmers forced to sell cotton to private traders in Adilabad
Cotton farmers in Adilabad and nearby districts are forced to sell produce to private traders below MSP as the Cotton Corporation of India refuses procurement citing high moisture levels. Farmers allege heavy losses and seek government intervention and compensation
Adilabad: Farmers are being forced to resort to distress sale of cotton produce to private traders as the Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) is refusing to procure it citing higher moisture content, causing huge losses to the growers.
The CCI has imposed certain restrictions on cotton procurement from farmers. For instance, it is not purchasing cotton containing moisture higher than 12 percent. These restrictions have become a boon to traders and a bane to farmers. The traders have set up temporary centres along national highways and at important junctions to purchase the cotton.
The farmers alleged that traders were offering at least Rs 1,000 less than the MSP of Rs 8,110 per quintal fixed by the government, with the CCI rejecting the cotton citing moisture content. They said they were incurring huge losses by selling the cotton to traders and requested officials to take steps to prevent fleecing by private buyers.
The growers further said that they had already witnessed a dip in yield due to unfavourable climatic conditions and unseasonal rains. They said they were left with no option but to sell the cotton to traders and were vexed by the restrictions imposed by the CCI. They also sought compensation for suffering huge losses in cultivating the crop for the third consecutive year.
Officials said the commercial crop, cotton, was raised in over 10 lakh acres across Adilabad, Kumram Bheem Asifabad, Nirmal and Mancherial districts this agriculture season. It was cultivated in 4.25 lakh acres in Adilabad district, while Kumram Bheem Asifabad district accounted for 3.35 lakh acres. Mancherial and Nirmal districts saw 1.61 lakh acres and 1.40 lakh acres of cultivation respectively.
Officials estimated that the erstwhile Adilabad district would register a yield of 84 lakh quintals. Adilabad district alone is expected to record 34 lakh quintals of cotton, followed by Kumram Bheem Asifabad with 26 lakh quintals. The district administration has established helpline number 1800 599 5779 and WhatsApp number 88972 81111 to help farmers in booking slots on the Kapas Kisan application to sell their cotton produce.
