Cotton farmers across the erstwhile Medak district are facing significant distress as the Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) is imposing stringent quality standards, leading to widespread rejection of their produce. The CCI’s insistence on maintaining moisture levels between 8 and 12 per cent, a challenging task amidst continuous rains and the onset of winter, has forced many farmers to sell their crops to private ginning mills at significantly lower prices than the Minimum Support Price (MSP).
With the CCI purchasing centres turning away farmers due to perceived quality issues, the farmers are left with no option but to accept the lower rates offered by the ginning mills. While the MSP for cotton is set at Rs 7,521 per quintal, farmers are being compelled to sell their produce for as low as Rs 6,200 to Rs 6,400 per quintal.
The situation is further exacerbated by the fact that the CCI itself often ends up selling the procured cotton to these same ginning mills, raising questions about the efficacy of the government’s intervention.
The erstwhile Medak district, with its 46 ginning industries, had been a significant cotton-producing region. However, the recent challenges faced by farmers have cast a shadow over the sector. Many farmers, fearing rejection by the CCI, are opting to sell their produce to middlemen at even lower rates.
Swamy, a farmer from Chebarithi village in Markook Mandal, shared his ordeal with Telangana Today. He recounted how his first harvest was rejected by the CCI centre in Gajwel due to alleged quality issues. Subsequently, he was forced to sell his crop to a ginning mill at a much lower price.
The districts of Sangareddy, Siddipet, and Medak have substantial cotton cultivation areas. With the MSP not being realised, farmers in these regions are facing severe financial hardship. They are urging the government to intervene and ensure that all their produce is procured at the MSP, irrespective of minor quality fluctuations.
