Telangana Asks CCI to Simplify Cotton Procurement Process
The Telangana government has urged the Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) to make the cotton procurement process in the state easier and smoother for farmers. The CCI is currently making preparations ahead of the arrival of cotton at designated procurement centers.
Agriculture Minister Tummala Nageswara Rao stated that while there were apprehensions of a decline in cotton cultivation acreage due to the impact of El Niño, the state has actually seen an increase of approximately 3 lakh acres (1.21 lakh hectares) in cotton acreage. He asked the CCI to streamline the procurement process and ensure farmers face no difficulties, assuring them of all possible cooperation from the state government.
The Minister urged mill owners to commence operations within the next 2–3 weeks to handle the anticipated rise in cotton arrivals in a timely manner.
Despite concerns regarding potential reductions in acreage and production due to delayed and erratic rainfall, farmers in Telangana have sown crops across a total of 47.71 lakh acres (19.31 lakh hectares) this Kharif season. This figure is close to the state's normal Kharif acreage.
The government has directed officials to constitute district-level monitoring committees, which will also include farmers.
However, farmers have complained about difficulties encountered while booking slots on the app designated for cotton procurement. Rambabu, a farmer from Khammam district, explained that while slots were previously available for *mandal*-wise procurement centers, they are now being allocated on a district-wise basis, causing inconvenience to farmers.
Farmers note that the problem of weed infestation has been reduced due to scanty rainfall. Following these complaints, the Minister asked the CCI to make the ‘Kisan Cotton’ app simpler and more user-friendly, incorporating suggestions from the farmers.
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