This story is from May 18, 2020

Growers selling cotton 50% below MSP

The delay in procurement owing to strict lockdown and Covid distancing enforced by Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) at its centres is forcing the farmers to sell their produce at prices even below the half of minimum support price (MSP).
Growers selling cotton 50% below MSP
Representative image
WARDHA: The delay in procurement owing to strict lockdown and Covid distancing enforced by Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) at its centres is forcing the farmers to sell their produce at prices even below the half of minimum support price (MSP).
The CCI has imposed limit of only 50 vehicles in a day and 40 quintal cotton of each farmer at a centre. Around 30,000 farmers in the district are still waiting for their turn.
After the lockdown, government had stopped purchasing cotton at CCI centres and agriculture produce marketing committees (APMCs).
Farmers, who could not sell their produce before the lockdown was imposed, had stored cotton to sell it after March in the hope of getting good price.
Due to lockdown, they had to wait till April end. With no signs of the lockdown being lifted, several farmers associations had urged the government to start procurement. The government started purchase from April 27, with a few restrictions that a farmer will have to register himself and only after receiving SMS he can proceed for CCI centres. Only 50 registrations were allowed per day restricting the number of vehicles to 50 and not more than 40 quintal of cotton per farmer.
Due to lack of labour at centres, only 30-40 vehicles are getting entry in a day. There are around 44,000 farmers in the district who have grown over 40 lakh quintal cotton on 4.05 lakh hectare land. At this speed, to complete the whole process of purchasing all the produce, more than four months will be required. So far, government could purchase 23 lakh quintal cotton of only 15,000 farmers.
Farmers need to sell their crop before monsoon. Private traders are looking this as opportunity. Farmers are being compelled to sell at any cost the trader decides. Recently, a farmer Ram Charde sold cotton at Rs2,250 per quintal at Hinganghat APMC when the MSP is Rs5,500. Agents are also demanding Rs500 per quintal for registration. Those who are ready to give the bribe, gets his turn early at the centres.

According to district agriculture superintendent Anil Ingle total cotton cultivation is 2.34 lakh hectare and production around 28-30 lakh quintal.
District collector’s office informed that this issue has been discussed by guardian minister Sunil Kedar with CCI authorities. General manager of CCI Ajay Kumar is likely to visit the district on Monday to take stock of the situation.
DDR Gautam Walde said, “Had there been no lockdown, we would have completed the procurement before April. We are purchasing 20,000 quintal cotton every day and 6-7 lakh quintal cotton is remaining. It will not be possible to complete the procurement before monsoon.”
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