Telangana’s cotton farmers fear looming procurement halt

Cotton farmers in Telangana are facing severe hardship as the Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) halts procurement due to Aadhaar server glitches. The unexpected delay has left farmers stranded at procurement centers for days, fearing the process may be scrapped entirely.

There is a blame game between CCI and marketing department officials, with no clear timeline for resolution. Farmers accuse both the corporation and the State government of negligence, suspecting that the glitch is being used as a pretext to stop procurement. Some, unable to wait, are selling their produce to private traders at rates lower than the minimum support price (MSP).

Mallaiah, a farmer from Asifabad, stated that procurement may soon be halted completely, exacerbating financial distress. Farmers have already endured difficulties this season, from struggles to purchase seeds to insufficient procurement centers. Additionally, delays in Rythu Bharosa investment support and crop loan waivers have worsened their crisis.

In Adilabad, where cotton spans 10.15 lakh acres, only 27.07 lakh quintals have been procured so far. With declining MSP rates and mounting losses, some farmers are resorting to extreme measures, highlighting the urgent need for intervention to resume procurement and ensure fair pricing.