Ginning mills strike, minister speaks to CCI MD

Tummala Nageswara Rao spoke to the chief secretary A Shanti Kumari asking to take steps to see that farmers do have to sell cotton at low prices.

Khammam: In the wake of a strike by cotton ginning millers in Telangana, Agriculture Minister Tummala Nageswara Rao spoke to the Cotton Corporation of India CMD to ensure that cotton farmers do not suffer due to the strike.

He also spoke to the chief secretary A Shanti Kumari asking to take steps to see that farmers do have to sell cotton at low prices; to hold talks with the cotton ginning millers and start the purchase of cotton immediately to protect the interests of farmers.

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The district marketing manager MA Aleem noted that the purchase of cotton went on as usual in Khammam district on Monday. However, it was learnt the produce which arrived at the ginning mills was procured during the first hour was moved into the mills and then farmers were told not to bring the produce to the mills as the millers were on strike.

The cotton millers were protesting against the conditions imposed by the Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) in the procurement of cotton.