Guntur: Agriculture Minister Atchannaidu assured cotton farmers that the govt is taking all necessary steps to ease procurement difficulties and ensure that every quintal of cotton produced in the state is purchased without delay. After visiting cotton procurement centres in Guntur and Palnadu districts, Atchannaidu spoke with Union minister Ram Mohan Naidu over the phone on Tuesday and explained the ordeals of the cotton growers in AP. He urged the Union minister to discuss the issue with the Union agriculture minister and CCI authorities in New Delhi to take immediate relief measures.
Atchannaidu said he personally spoke to the Union textile minister, the CCI chairman, and managing director, urging them to relax certain procurement norms so that farmers do not face hardships at market yards. He said the Centre responded positively and assured cooperation in streamlining the purchasing process. "Farmers should not lose courage or feel anxious. We will ensure that the entire cotton produce in the state is procured," he said.
Reiterating the govt's commitment to agricultural development, Atchannaidu said the coalition govt allocated ₹300 crore in the budget for crop price support and spent nearly ₹1,000 crore in just 16 months to ensure farmers receive fair prices.
This, he said, reflects the alliance govt's sincerity and dedication to strengthening the agriculture sector.
He said the govt would continue to stand firmly with banana, maize, and cotton farmers, who play a crucial role in the rural economy. To ease pressure on CCI procurement centres, the minister said the govt would facilitate additional procurement through private mills starting 1 Dec. This move, he said, would help speed up purchases and reduce waiting times for farmers at market yards.
Atchannaidu also noted that the state govt wrote to the Centre a few days ago requesting that procurement under L1, L2, L3, and L4 categories be allowed simultaneously to prevent delays. The state, he said, was pressing for flexible guidelines so that procurement can continue uninterrupted, even when moisture content or other parameters fluctuate due to weather conditions. He advised farmers to cultivate high-quality crops and choose varieties with strong market demand. The govt, he said, would continue to support them with timely advisories, interventions, and policies to ensure agriculture remains profitable and resilient.
