Millers Cheating Cotton Farmers by Not Paying Auction Price
Cotton farmers have been facing different problems right from the beginning of this season, such as stunted growth of saplings, insect attacks, and an increase in the price of pesticides.
Karimnagar: Several cotton farmers in Karimnagar district have complained of being cheated by millers despite the latter agreeing to a bid price in auctions at the agricultural market yard.
For example, Kuduthala Mallaiah, a farmer from Vilasagar in Jammikunta mandal of Karimnagar, brought about 11 quintals of cotton to the Jammikunta agriculture market yard on Monday.
Bidders lifted the cotton in the auction at Rs 8,850 per quintal. After shifting the cotton to the ginning mill, the price had been reduced to Rs 8,750, citing moisture. When the farmer raised an objection, the price had been hiked to Rs 8,800.
Another farmer, Velpula Madhunaiah faced a similar problem. After bidding for Rs 8,870 in the auction, the price had been reduced to Rs 8,770 at the ginning mill. When he questioned, mill management reacted rudely.
After receiving such complaints, market committee chairperson Pulluri Swapna visited the Narsimha Cotton Mill to examine the situation. When the mill staff behaved with her improperly, she lodged a complaint with the police against the mill management.
Right from the beginning of this season, cotton farmers have been facing different problems, such as stunted growth of saplings, insect attacks, and increase in price of pesticides, among others.
Now, millers are reducing Rs 100 to Rs 200 on every quintal of cotton on the pretext of moisture, poor quality, and other reasons. “How can they do this after deciding on the price at the auction,” a farmer asked.
When questioned, Jammikunta market committee secretary R. Mallesham said such problems could arise in case farmers placed substandard and moisturised crops beneath their better cotton stocks. However, this matter would come to light when the cotton is unloaded in mills. This would lead to a reduction in price by about Rs 50 to Rs 100 per quintal, though after farmers agree on the issue.
Mallesham clarified that such issues would arise in case of two to three out of 100 vehicles arriving at the market. He said they have not received any complaints so far. If anyone complains, the Jammikunta market committee secretary said they would issue notices to millers.
With a decline in yield due to the El Niño effect, cotton farmers had been hoping they would get a much higher price than the minimum support price (MSP) of Rs 8,667 fixed by the Union Government for the year 2026–27.