Telangana: Blow for cotton farmers as mills stall purchase

Hyderabad: Already distressed cotton farmers on Monday suffered another blow with Telangana Cotton and Ginning Mills Association deciding not to buy their produce.

Farmers in Vikarabad and Adilabad staged protests against the decision and blocked a road at Tandur of Vikarabad district.

The farmers said they were forced to sell their crop to private persons and touts as Cotton Corporation of India was not willing to buy from them.

“Today we came to Maruti Industries and Cotton Ginning Mill at Agnoor in Yalal Mandal of Vikrarabad district to sell cotton. They didn’t open the gates for us and said they would not buy the cotton as the government was not giving them any commission. The minimum support price fixed by the government is Rs 5,200, but we are forced to sell at Rs 3,000. For each quintal we lose over Rs 300. Who will bear auto and vehicle expenses?” said A Yadagiri, a farmer from Vikrabad.

The situation is similar in Adilabad, Mahabubnagar, Vikarabad and other cotton growing mandals.

Kondal Reddy of Rythu Swarajya Vedika said moisture content is high in cotton due to heavy rains. “Taking this as advantage, CCI is rejecting cotton purchases. Ginning mills are protesting demanding commission,” he said.