CPM demandsRs 500 bonus over MSP for cotton

In a statement, Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) district secretary Mudireddy Sudhakar Reddy on Friday demanded the immediate opening of Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) procurement centres.
He mentioned that cotton was cultivated in 5.5 lakh acres in Nalgonda district. Due to the delay in the opening of CCI procurement centers, many farmers are forced to sell their produce to middlemen at lower prices in several villages.
He expressed concern over the farmers suffering heavy losses, as there was scanty rainfall during the initial stages of cotton cultivation and it was followed by excessive rainfall when the crop was ready for harvest. He further added that the cost of cotton cultivation was higher this year due to the increase in the prices of seeds, fertilizers, and pesticides. Many cotton farmers had to rely on private money lenders because the government had not released input subsidy under Rythu Bharosa funds. He urged the government to provide an additional bonus of Rs 500 per quintal over the minimum support price (MSP) announced for cotton.
He warned that if the government does not open the cotton procurement centers immediately, they would organize large-scale protests by gathering farmers.