Agriculture minister Kinjarapu Atchannaidu. (Image: DC)
Vijayawada: The Andhra Pradesh government would urge the Cotton Corporation of India to purchase the entire cotton produced in the state and registered under the e-crop system.
Agriculture minister Kinjarapu Atchannaidu and textiles minister S. Savitha said on Wednesday that the state would develop new cotton varieties with a view to increasing its cultivation and production ensuring financial security to cotton farmers.
The ministers made it clear to the cotton spinning and ginning traders that the cess would be removed only if they bought cotton from the farmers in the state.
Atchannaidu and Savitha held a meeting with ginning, spinning millers, Acharya NG Ranga Agriculture University scientists and agricultural officials at the secretariat in Velagapudi in Amaravati to discuss ways to eliminate waste in cotton and ensure better prices to farmers.
Principal secretary to state handloom and textiles department, K. Sunitha, explained through a power point presentation that the decrease in price was due to the presence of waste in cotton.
Minister Savitha said the production of cotton in the state was 20.50 lakh bales in 2017-18 and this decreased to 11.58 lakh bales in 2023-24. Packing of cotton in plastic and gunny bags caused the problem of waste during ginning.
“The quality of cotton is getting worse and the price is decreasing as a result. Farmers suffer financial loss,” she said.
She said there was no possibility of presence of plastic and other wastes if cotton bags are used for cotton collection. The agriculture department officials should create awareness among the farmers in these respects, she said.
Agriculture minister Atchannaidu said cotton farmers must register their names in the e-crop system. CCI should buy all the crops registered in the e-crop. farmers should be made aware that by registering themselves in e-crop system, they would derive the benefits on offer from the government.
Atchannaidu directed the officials to study the conditions in Maharashtra and Telangana on increasing cotton yields and prevention of waste. Take immediate corrective steps, he told them.
He advised the scientists of Acharya NG Ranga Agriculture University to develop better techniques for higher yield in cotton cultivation.
The ministers made it clear to the cotton spinning and ginning traders that the cess would be removed only if they bought cotton from the farmers in the state.
Atchannaidu and Savitha held a meeting with ginning, spinning millers, Acharya NG Ranga Agriculture University scientists and agricultural officials at the secretariat in Velagapudi in Amaravati to discuss ways to eliminate waste in cotton and ensure better prices to farmers.
Principal secretary to state handloom and textiles department, K. Sunitha, explained through a power point presentation that the decrease in price was due to the presence of waste in cotton.
Minister Savitha said the production of cotton in the state was 20.50 lakh bales in 2017-18 and this decreased to 11.58 lakh bales in 2023-24. Packing of cotton in plastic and gunny bags caused the problem of waste during ginning.
“The quality of cotton is getting worse and the price is decreasing as a result. Farmers suffer financial loss,” she said.
She said there was no possibility of presence of plastic and other wastes if cotton bags are used for cotton collection. The agriculture department officials should create awareness among the farmers in these respects, she said.
Agriculture minister Atchannaidu said cotton farmers must register their names in the e-crop system. CCI should buy all the crops registered in the e-crop. farmers should be made aware that by registering themselves in e-crop system, they would derive the benefits on offer from the government.
Atchannaidu directed the officials to study the conditions in Maharashtra and Telangana on increasing cotton yields and prevention of waste. Take immediate corrective steps, he told them.
He advised the scientists of Acharya NG Ranga Agriculture University to develop better techniques for higher yield in cotton cultivation.
( Source : Deccan Chronicle )
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