Cotton buying begins even as farmers seek higher prices

Adilabad:District officials began cotton purchases at the Adilabad market on Friday, despite continued protests by farmers demanding higher prices for their produce. Collector Rajarshi Shaw officially launched the commercial operations, and private traders and representatives of the Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) participated in the auction.

ICC officials clarified that they would not buy cotton with moisture content above 12 per cent. However, the picker noted that cotton brought to the yard by farmers had moisture levels between 18 and 19 percent, attributed to foggy weather and recent rains.

Private traders offered ₹7,150 for high moisture cotton, below the minimum support price (MSP) of ₹7,521. Concerned about moisture content, farmers urged private traders and officials to buy their produce without regard to moisture levels and without imposing price cuts.

Officials indicated that they are seeking a compromise to ensure justice for farmers, while farmers continued to protest, asking the state government to intervene in the procurement process.