CCI rate cut irks Malwa growers

Sameer Singh

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, November 30

Cotton farmers are perturbed over not getting minimum support price (MSP) for even rich quality cotton produce brought at mandis across various districts in Malwa region. Farmers said despite bringing cotton with moisture content within the permissible limit, the Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) had introduced a quality cut of Rs 60 on per quintal basis.

Talking to The Tribune, BKU Lakhowal general secretary Sarup Singh said, “The CCI, a government authorised agency, has imposed a cut of Rs 60 on MSP of cotton. Even rich quality cotton produce is being procured at lower rates in various districts of the Malwa region. Farmers in Bathinda, Mansa, Faridkot, Fazilka and Muktsar will be directly affected with the move.”

Singh added, “Unlike the first picking of cotton that has comparatively higher moisture content, a majority of the farmers are bringing dry and quality rich cotton with moisture content up to six to seven per cent against the permissible limit of eight to 12 per cent by the CCI. Despite this, farmers are not getting a fair price for their produce.”

Farm union members said when they approached CCI officials over the matter, the latter said they had been told by their senior officials that cotton quality was not so rich and instructed to impose a good quality-cut on the procurement of crop. Farmers also stated that if the CCI does not procure cotton on MSP, they would be forced to stage protest.