KURNOOL: State president of Raithu Sanghala Samakhya K. Sambasiva Rao has urged the Government to create a fair marketing mechanism for agriculture produce in the State. According to him, farmers are under the impression that even Government agencies like Markfed and Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) are often misleading them and are not fair to them.

Markfed refused to buy dry chilli from farmers last year on the ground that it contained pesticide residues. Reluctant to sell it at a throwaway price, farmers stocked them in cold storage. Both private traders and Markfed are buying old chilli at Rs 3,500 this year, as the issue of pesticide residues has not come up.

CCI advice

Similarly, the CCI advised cotton growers a few months ago not to sell the stock as better prices are expected this season because of the demand in international market. On the advice of the CCI, several big farmers and small-time traders have stocked cotton. But the prices range between Rs. 1,400 and Rs. 1,800 per quintal now. The CCI officials are attributing the low prices now to low staple length of cotton fibre.

Mr. Rao has urged the Government to assign an active role to procurement agencies to help farmers in times of distress by buying huge stocks and support the prices.

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