Cotton farmers accuse traders of cartelization, protest Warangal, Dec 13 (INN): Alleging that cotton traders of forming a cartel to reduce the procurement price of cotton, the cotton farmers on Monday staged a dharna at Agriculture Produce Market Committee in Enumamula in Warangal district. The cotton farmers alleged that the traders have colluded among themselves to reduce the procurement price of cotton in the market, thus cartelization of the crop. Raising slogans against traders, the cotton farmers staged a dharna in the yard demanding reasonable prices for their produce.
The cotton farmers claimed that the cotton, which fetched more than Rs 4,200 per quintal until last week, is now fetching them prices below Rs 4,000. They said that they suspect the traders have hatched a conspiracy and put it into affect to exploit the farmers. However, the traders stated that they reduced the price due to higher moisture content levels in the cotton.
The farmers, who came from the surrounding districts, alleged that they were exploited indiscriminately by the traders and are getting a raw deal in fixing of price. The farmers demanded that the government fix Rs 4,500 as the Minimum Support Price for cotton. The farmers also alleged that the officials were threatening them if they demand remunerative price for their produce.
News Posted: 13 December, 2010
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