Cotton procurement centre opens in Warangal market

Minister Konda Surekha inaugurated a cotton procurement centre at the Warangal Agricultural Market Yard on Monday. The centre has been set up under the supervision of the Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) to ensure that farmers receive the government-declared Minimum Support Price (MSP) for their produce. District Collector and local officials were also present at the event.

Speaking on the occasion, Minister Surekha said that the Congress government is committed to protecting farmers from exploitation by middlemen. To achieve this, the government has strengthened the system of direct cotton procurement through CCI. For the current season, the MSP for cotton has been fixed at ₹8,110 per quintal.

She urged farmers not to fall prey to middlemen and instead sell their produce directly at CCI centres to receive fair prices. “Farmers should benefit financially by selling their cotton transparently through official procurement centres,” she said.

The Minister also issued a stern warning against any attempts to harass farmers under the pretext of “high moisture content” in their produce. She made it clear that strict action will be taken against officials or traders who exploit or cheat farmers in this regard.

Surekha instructed officials to ensure that the entire procurement process remains transparent and efficient. She also emphasized the need for timely payments so that farmers do not face unnecessary delays.