TRS floor leader in Lok Sabha Jithender Reddy on Friday stated that the Telangana Government could play no role in purchase of cotton from farmers in the State.
Speaking to media persons here, Jithender Reddy said that the Central Government purchases cotton through Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) and no other agency is authorised to do so. However, he said some of the norms set by CCI were against the interest of farmers and the Centre should increase the prices of cotton so as to help the farmers. He also demanded that the Centre also purchase the damaged cotton, which amounts to nearly 12-16% of the total produce. He dismissed the demand by the opposition parties and said that the State Government itself could not buy cotton.
Jithender Reddy said that so far 84 Centres have been established by the CCI to purchase the cotton. He said that the State Government was ready to start 16 more Centres if the Centre permits. (INN)