Traders to buy Narma cotton at record Rs7,350 per quintal

Raj Sadosh

Abohar, October 30

Traders today agreed to purchase long-staple Narma BT cotton at Rs 7,350 per quintal. This is the highest price offered in Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan. The decision came after officials of the Market Committee, Samyukt Kisan Morcha and Arhtiya Association held a meeting at Kisan Bhavan here.

According to data collected by authorities, cotton was being sold in Gidderbaha between Rs 6,950 to Rs 7,020. It was fetching Rs 7,000 in Mansa and Rs 7,045 in Jaitu.

As rain had affected the produce stacked in cotton yards, the stakeholders today agreed that from October 11 onwards, cotton-laden tractor-trailers would be directly taken to the ginning and pressing factories after bidding instead of offloading the cotton in the new grain market complex here. This will help create space for storing paddy in the mandi.

The purchase of cotton started on September 1 at the new grain market here within hours of arrival.

On September 30, farmers staged a sit-in at the grain market, accusing the employees of the Market Committee of having a nexus with some cotton ginning and pressing factories. The protesters alleged the staff was causing loss to the exchequer by sending cotton-laden trailers directly to factories without following the auction process. Market Committee chairman Surinder Bishnoi assured them that the system would be rectified.