Minister Prattipati Pulla Rao inaugurates cotton purchasing center

Guntur: Minister for Civil Supplies Prattipati Pulla Rao  inaugurated cotton purchase center  at Agriculture Market Yard in Chilakaluripet town on Tuesday. Speaking on this occasion, he urged the farmers to sell cotton in the CCI counters to get MSP of Rs. 5,450 per quintal and urged the farmers to avail the facility provided by the government.

He said, in spite of deficit rainfall,  Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu had aken steps to release water from the Nagarjunasatgar Right Canal ayauact area to save the standing crops and to help farmers. He said the government was committed for the welfare of farmers. 

The minister said that because of Pattiseema project, the farmers in Krishna Delta are getting water within the stipulated time and added that similarly, if Godavari-Penna rivers interlinking project is completed, Godavari water will be pumped into Nagarjunasagar Right Canal ayacut area of Guntur and Prakasam districts.

Farmers cultivated cotton in 1.71 lakh hectares in Guntur district. The officials are expecting 5-lakh bales of cotton yield. Due to lack of rains and attack of pink bowl worm, the cotton yield reduced to four to five quaintals per acre. 

While, the government of India fixed the MSP Rs.5,450, the traders are purchasing cotton at Rs. 5,000. The CCI is purchasing cotton the farmers who booked their details in the E-crop booking. If the  farmers did not register their names in E-crop booking, the CCI is not purchasing cotton from them.  The farmers who did register their names in the E-crop  have no option to sell to the private buyer at lower price.