India’s Telangana State Government has requested the Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) to open its purchase centres in at least 25 market yards by October 10 as cotton plucking has commenced in some pockets of the state where its cultivation was taken up early and cotton is expected to arrive in the market beginning the first week of October.
At a recent meeting in Hyderabad, CCI decided to open cotton procurement centres in 98 market yards and another 288 purchase centres at ginning mills, according to a report. State Marketing Minister T Harish Rao asked CCI officials to open all their purchase centres by October 20.
The Indian Government has fixed a minimum support price (MSP) of Rs. 5,450 per quintal for cotton this year against Rs. 4,320 last year. A large number of farmers are expected to sell their produce at the CCI purchase centres because of the rise in MSP. However, the Minister suggested the farmers to maintain CCI quality norms regarding moisture content.
Rao also telephoned CCI Chairman and Managing Director P Alli Rani and asked her to initiate steps for timely shifting of cotton bales and seed from ginning mills and also to ensure hassle-free procurement in Khammam District where ginning millers did not participate in CCI tenders.
