Unauthorised traders fleece cotton farmers in Adilabad
A section of owners of kirana stores and some small-time businessmen are buying the cotton for around Rs 6,500 per quintal in several parts of erstwhile Adilabad, following lack of supervision by officials concerned
Adilabad: Unauthorised traders are drawing flak for fleecing hapless cotton farmers by buying cotton at lower prices than the minimum support price of Rs 7,520 per quintal fixed by the government and by charging various charges.
A section of owners of kirana stores and some small-time businessmen are buying the cotton for around Rs 6,500 per quintal in several parts of erstwhile Adilabad, following lack of supervision by officials concerned. They are allegedly collecting commission, hamali and weighing charges from the farmers, causing huge losses to the growers.
Marketing department officials said 268 traders were authorised to procure cotton and pulses from the farmers in the erstwhile Adilabad district. However, around 350 illegal traders procure cotton in several parts of the district. They purchase the cotton from gullible farmers in Narnoor, Ichoda and Indervelli, Kerameri, Tiryani, Chennur, Jannaram, Kaddempeddur, Pembi, Wankidi, Jainor, Vemanapalli and many other remote areas in Adilabad, Mancherial, Nirmal and Kumram Bheem Asifabad districts.
The unauthorized traders are operating WhatsApp groups by joining farmers as members. They are updating the price of the cotton on the instant messaging application every day. They are levying a commission of 2.5 or 3 percent on the cost for instant payment in liquid cash, Rs 25 per bag towards hamali and weighing (Kanta) charges from the farmers.
For instance, a farmer would lose Rs 25,000 in the form of commission if he sells cotton worth Rs 10 lakh to a trader. Some owners of kirana stores are practising a barter system to buy the cotton in exchange for groceries. They also impose various taxes on the farmers, resulting in losses to the growers. This practice goes unchecked in rural parts.
Ravinder, a cotton farmer from Rebbena mandal in Kumram Bheem Asifabad, said he registered a loss of Rs 700 per quintal due to the commission, hamali and kanta charge collected by the traders. He requested the officials to take steps to curb the menace and help farmers in making cultivation of cotton profitable.
Adilabad marketing assistant director Gajanand said that the department’s secretaries were instructed to take action against unauthorised traders. He stated that surprise inspections were carried to check the menace. He added that officials of the revenue and Panchayat departments were asked to crack the whip against the illegal traders.
