Aarti Gandhe, Thurs Oct 9,
Traders are not buying due to fluctuations in cotton prices. The quality of cotton has deteriorated due to heavy rains. This has taken away the support of farmers. Since CCI and Marketing Federation are not going to buy, farmers will have to sell cotton at a very low price. To change this situation, buying must start from November 1.
Due to the constant fluctuation in cotton prices, traders are hesitant to buy cotton. This has taken away the support of farmers who earn money by selling cotton for Diwali. Now the hope of farmers is resting on CCI (Cotton Corporation of India) and the Marketing Federation. However, due to heavy rains, the quality of cotton has deteriorated, and there is also moisture in it. Due to this, there is doubt whether these government agencies will buy cotton or not. If they do not buy, farmers are afraid that they will have to sell cotton at a low price. Cotton has started coming to the market from North India and cotton will start coming to Vidarbha soon. However, cotton and soybean have suffered a lot due to heavy rains. Farmers are hoping that the crop that has survived this crisis will at least get a good price. The government has announced a guaranteed price of cotton of Rs 8,110 per quintal for this season. However, currently, cotton is not getting more than Rs 6,200 in the market. That is, the price is Rs 1,900 less per quintal than the guaranteed price.
There is an old tradition in Vidarbha to celebrate Diwali by selling cotton. However, due to heavy rains, the quality of the cotton in the first harvest will be low. Therefore, the farmers are less likely to get the guaranteed price. There is a possibility that CCI will not purchase cotton, citing the moisture content in the cotton due to heavy rains. Since private traders are also not buying at present, there is a fear that farmers will have to sell cotton at a very low price. To improve this situation, CCI and the State Cotton Producers Marketing Federation need to start purchasing cotton from November 1.
The Central Government's CCI has recently granted permission to the State Cooperative Cotton Producers Marketing Federation to purchase cotton in the state. In this regard, a meeting of the board of directors of the marketing federation was held in Mumbai on September 30. The permission given by the CCI was discussed in this meeting. Marketing Federation President MLA Kunal Patil and Vice President Prasenjit Patil will soon meet Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar to find a solution to the problems in cotton procurement.
Cotton was cultivated on five lakh hectares in Yavatmal district. Due to heavy rains in August and September, more than 50 percent of the crops have been damaged. This has put more than five lakh farmers in the district in trouble. Although the government has announced a relief package for the flood victims, farmers are saying that this aid is inadequate compared to the damage caused.
The Marketing Federation needs Rs 3,000 crore for cotton procurement. Banks can provide loans to the Marketing Federation if the state government provides a guarantee. Even if this financial problem is solved, there is a problem of employees. A total of 168 employees are required for cotton procurement, but that number of employees is not available. Due to this, further obstacles are being created in the cotton procurement process.