Direct purchase of cotton: CCI’s move irks Malwa arhtiyas

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More than 5,000 commission agents will be affected by the decision. We will meet the CM on Friday to discuss the issue. VIJAY KALRA, state president arhtiya association

MUKTSAR : Irked over the Cotton Corporation of India (CCI)’s decision to purchase raw cotton in the premises of ginning factories from farmers instead of grain markets, the arthiyas (commission agents) have decided to meet chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Friday.

A state level meeting of commission agents particularly from the cotton belt of Malwa districts including Muktsar, Bathinda, Mansa, Fazilka and Faridkot was held in Muktsar on Wednesday.

Vijay Kalra, state president artiya association, said, “More than 5 thousand commission agents will be affected by the decision. Artiyas are dependent on commissions. To discuss the issue, we will meet the CM on Friday.”

Earlier, artiyas were getting 2.5 % commission from purchase of cotton crop. Neeraj Kumar, Bathinda manager, CCI said, “Direct purchase will benefit farmers. We are offering ₹5450 per quintal for a crop with 18-22% moisture content. In most cases, farmers take an advance loan from commission agents so they are reluctant to sell their crop directly.” In comparison to 2.84 lakh hectares last year, this year 3.95 lakhs hectares are under cotton crop in the state.

FARMERS WELCOME CCI DECISION

Farmers have welcomed CCI’s move of direct purchase. “Market committee officials can arrange the purchase with their employees’ help. We welcome the CCI decision, now the government should make it possible. Commission agents have no role so what is logic behind selling it through them?” said, Sukhdev Singh Kokri, general secretary, Bharti Kisan Union (Ughrahan).