All set for the launch of cotton purchase centers from tomorrow in Guntur

Guntur: The government has prepared a plan to start cotton purchases at 43 Agriculture Market Yards in the State from October 23. Agriculture Marketing Commissioner Pradyumna had already reviewed arrangements for cotton purchases and instructed the officials to take steps to ensure smooth transactions.

According to official sources, the Central government fixed minimum support price (MSP) at Rs 5,550 Rs 5,420 last year. The Cotton Corporation of India will participate in auction if the traders quote price below the MSP.

Due to increase in cotton price to Rs.7,000 per quintal during the last season, the farmers, who cultivated chillis during the last year, shifted to cotton crop during this season. The area under cotton cultivation increased to 17 lakh acres from 14 lakh acres in the State. Cotton growers in Kurnool district are securing Rs 6,000 per quintal in the open marker because it is of low quality. it will take another 15 days to one month for cotton purchases to pick up in the State.

Rains and pink bollworm damaged the crop. The farmers said the yield per acre is expected to be between Rs 12 quintals and 20 quintals. K Sambasiva Rao, a farmer in Amaravati, said "I am expecting minimum 15 quintal yield per acre though crop was damaged. If the rains will continue, crop will be damaged. The traders will offer lower price for substandard and inferior quality of cotton."

Joint director of Agriculture M Vijaya Bharati said " Crop damage due to pink bollworm attack is minimum. Due to rains cotton flowering is falling and yield is low. If the rains will stop, the farmers will get up to 20 quintals per acre".

Agriculture Marketing Department official P Siva Reddy said "The government will open 43 cotton purchase centres in the State, including eleven in Guntur district. Cotton purchase centres will be opened in Guntur, Tadikonda, Krosuru, Sattenapalli, Pidiguralla, Nadikudi, Narasraopet, Macherla, Chilakaluripet, Pedanandipadu and Phirangipuram.