Adilabad farmers hit hard as cotton procurement stalls

Farmers in erstwhile Adilabad district, a major cotton-producing region in Asia, are facing significant losses due to insufficient procurement centers. The Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) has established only 11 centers, leaving many farmers reliant on private traders who offer lower prices and additional charges.

The government's Minimum Support Price (MSP) for cotton is Rs 7,520 per quintal, but private traders are offering only Rs 7,010, along with a 2.5 per cent commission and a Rs 25 per quintal handling fee. This results in farmers losing around Rs 700 per quintal.

The CCI's strict moisture content limits have further hindered procurement, as many farmers' cotton exceeds the 8-12 per cent threshold. This has led to a surge in private trader activity, exacerbating the issue.

Farmers are urging the government to intervene by increasing the number of procurement centers and relaxing moisture content restrictions to ensure fair prices and prevent exploitation.