Bail out cotton ryots, says Soyam Bapurao

ADILABAD: BJP MP from Adilabad Soyam Bapurao has raised in Lok Sabha the issue of Cotton Corporation of India not accepting cotton with high moisture content, as the moisture had risen only due to bad weather conditions. He requested the Centre to order CCI into accept cotton with moisture content of up to 20 per cent from the existing 12 per cent, thereby benefitting farmers.

The Adilabad MP pointed out that cotton had been cultivated over 8.3 lakh acres in Adilabad, Nirmal, and Kumaram-bheem Asifabad districts. Heavy rains and subsequent foggy conditions had led to cotton produced acquiring high moisture content. He said because of the limit of 12 per cent moisture content, farmers were unable to get even the minimum statutory price of Rs 5,550 announced by the Centre Only relaxing the moisture norm will help farmers, he pointed out in the Lok Sabha.

Mr Bapurao also met Union agriculture minister Narender Singh Tomar and CCI Chairman and CMD P. Alli Rani seeking their intervention into the issue. Once the moisture content norm is relaxed, the Adilabad branch of CCI will be able to purchase cotton, thereby helping farmers, he added.