Hyderabad: BRS working president KT Rama Rao on Tuesday blamed the Congress-led Telangana government and the BJP-led Centre for the cotton procurement crisis, accusing both of neglecting farmers’ needs during his visit to Adilabad district.
He met cotton and soyabean farmers at the Adilabad market yard and questioned the government’s silence. “If there’s no crisis, why is the market yard shut? Why was our visit obstructed?” he asked.
KTR said government agencies had procured less than one lakh quintals of cotton so far this season. He warned that farmers are reaching a breaking point due to policy failure and bureaucratic restrictions. The procurement cap of 7 quintals per acre, he argued, does not reflect Adilabad’s actual yield of 10 to 15 quintals.
KTR: App blocks access, policies favour traders
KTR criticised the Kisan Kapas Mobile App, stating many farmers neither own smartphones nor have access to mobile networks. He also highlighted that due to rain and cold weather, the moisture content in harvested cotton had naturally risen. Yet, the government was rejecting produce with even 12% moisture.
He recalled that the previous BRS government had persuaded the Centre to allow procurement of cotton with up to 22% moisture. Now, he alleged, the Congress government was using the app and procurement rules to help private traders exploit farmers.
The BRS leader also criticised the Congress cabinet for not addressing agricultural issues. He accused it of staging political theatrics to distract from real failures. The BJP-led Central government, he added, worsened the situation by removing import duties on cotton, making Indian farmers compete with cheaper imports.
KTR called the crisis structural. He held the Congress responsible for problems in power supply, fertiliser availability, and crop procurement. Unless the State exerts pressure on the Centre, he said, farmers would continue to suffer. “Protest is the only path left. BRS will stand by the farmers,” he declared.