SANGAREDDY: Farmers were hopeful of changing their lives after cultivating white gold, but ultimately they were left in disappointment. Last year, cotton was purchased at around Rs 4,500-5,000 and so, most of the farmers opted for cotton this year cultivating it in almost five lakh acres in Sangareddy and Siddipet. Another month is left in harvesting the crop, but heavy rains and shortage of labourers have dashed farmers’ hopes. The cotton farmers are facing several problems. On one side, colour of cotton is changing, moisture content is increasing and on the other shortage of labourers is making it difficult. Most of the labourers are working in Employment Guarantee Scheme (EGS) in rural areas and so they are demanding `300 per day.
Mohammad Jameel Uddin, a farmer from Gajwel, said labourers are demanding `300 and if he employs ten labourers, it will cost him Rs 3,000 per day. He said if cotton has moisture content, CCI will not purchase and private traders will not pay more than Rs 2,500-Rs 3,000. He said CCI’s purchase centre is in Gajwel and it is purchasing cotton only if moisture content is below 12 per cent. He said after being refused by officials, they are forced to take their produce to private traders, who exploit them. B Laxminarayana, a farmer from Pulkal said they don’t have any other option after CCI refuses.
Most farmers in Gajwel, Siddipet, Husnabad, Cheryala and other mandals of Siddipet district cultivated cotton. Irrigation minister T Harish Rao directed officials to start purchase centre by Oct 16, but purchase has not started in his own Constituency Siddipet. Marketing AD said farmers are bringing cotton with 20-25 per cent moisture and CCI is refusing to purchase. When asked about farmers’ allegation that support price is being offered between Rs 2,500-Rs 3,000, he said CCI is purchasing cotton below 12 pc moisture.