Pvt procurement agencies continue to rule the roost

Sameer Singh

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, October 18

Though the district administration has assured cotton farmers of procurement by Cotton Crop of India (CCI), private procurement agencies continue to call the shot at mandis in the district. Farmers also alleged tardy procurement of cotton by private agencies, affecting the quality of the agricultural produce.

Talking to Bathinda Tribune, farmers at the grain market here said private agencies were demanding moisture content up to 8 to 10 per cent, which was quite low than what they were bringing to mandis.

“In the name of high moisture content, private agencies has been arbitrarily fixing rates of cotton and procuring it as low as Rs4,550 per quintal,” said Sukhpal Singh, a farmer from Kot Shamir.

Another farmer Sahab Singh said, “If the government agency will keep dragging its feet from procurement, I have to stop cultivation of cotton in the coming years. Despite the administration’s assurance, the CCI has not initiated procurement. As a result, a private agency procured cotton from me at Rs4,900.”

Farmers said private agencies had adopted an “arbitrary” approach when it came to procurement. They said even if bids had been placed, they were taking more time to lift cotton, affecting the produce adversely. The farmers added that they also fear damage to the agricultural produce as the sky was overcast on Friday.

Seeta Singh, a farmer, said, “It doesn’t matter whether cotton was procured by a government agency or a private one. I am happy as long as a remunerative price is provided for my year’s hard work. Even as the MSP for cotton is Rs5,450, I am ready to sell it for Rs5,300 or even Rs5,200. But selling it beyond will mean that I will not be able to bear the increased input cost and the profit margin will be negligible.”

Farmers from a few blocks in the district said owing to the incessant rain and excessive heat conditions, there was a sizeable decline in cotton production in some areas. They added that they cannot rely on banks for loans and during rain, arthiyas come assist them financially.

Meanwhile, members of the BKU Sidhupur have been protesting at Goniana Mandi for the past three days. 

They have been demanding that procurement of cotton must be done by a government agency so that they can get remunerative prices for their agricultural produce. 

Notably, members of the BKU Ekta Ugrahan met CCI officials on Thursday wherein the latter had assured them that the procurement of cotton would be done by CCI.