Farmers forced to store cotton 'gunpowder' at home

Adilabad:Many tenant farmers in the state are storing their harvested cotton in their homes due to delays in obtaining certification from Agriculture Extension Officers (AEOs), despite the significant fire and health risks this poses.

Uppari Ramanna, a tenant farmer from Ankoli who leased five acres to grow cotton, has stored his produce in his small house while awaiting AEO certification to sell it. His wife, Kavitha, expressed concerns about the health hazards and fire risks of keeping cotton in their home and verandah. She noted that storing cotton for an extended period is not feasible, as it has caused respiratory issues and poses a fire hazard that could endanger nearby houses. She also has to closely monitor her children to prevent accidents while they play near the cotton storage area.

Tenant farmers, who have invested heavily by paying lease rates of ₹18,000 to ₹20,000 per acre, are frustrated with the low market price of cotton, which is currently around ₹6,500 per quintal—below the Minimum Support Price (MSP) of ₹7,521. Additionally, traders at market yards often offer even lower prices, citing high moisture content in the crop. The Cotton Corporation of India also refuses to purchase cotton with a moisture content above 12 per cent, leaving farmers in a difficult position.