Cotton farmers on Monday staged a protest at Punjab Hotel Chowk in Adilabad town, Telangana, demanding remunerative price for their produce as trading opened in three market yards in the district. The 'rasta roko' on the old NH 7 resulted in disruption of traffic for over two hours.
Trading opened with the Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) quoting Rs. 4,050 per quintal, the minimum support price (MSP) for cotton, at Adilabad market yard even as private traders restrained from participating in the customary auction. CCI Adilabd Branch Manager Arjun Dave, however, made it clear that the MSP would be implemented for cotton with a moisture content of 8 per cent.
This was not agreeable to the farmers who demanded waiver of the condition of deducting Rs. 40 per percentage point of moisture between 8 and 12 per cent. They also demanded that Forest Minister Jogu Ramanna, who belongs to the district, and Collector M. Jagan Mohan be present during the proceedings.
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After about a couple of hours of debating with CCI and market officials over the price, a section of farmers marched towards the Punjab Hotel Chowk to stage the protest.
Meanwhile, Revenue and police officials headed by Adilabad RDO A. Sudhakar Reddy and Assistant Superintendent of Police D. Joel Davis continued with their efforts to convince the farmers at the market yard.