Kalahandi cotton farmers too demand justice

The Pioneer, Dec 4, 2010
BIKASH KHEMKA | Bhawanipatna

After road blockade by paddy farmers in the district a day earlier, cotton farmers in Kalahandi district also blocked the main street at Karlapada village en route Bhawanipatna to Nuapada on Friday morning demanding continuation of cotton mandis, closure of cotton trading at Konark Spinning Mill and strict action against middlemen.

In the district, seven mandis have been opened so far for cotton trading whereas only at single mill point cotton is being purchased, alleged the agitated farmers. They demanded closure of trading at Konark Spinning Mill at Kesinga so that the farmers would sell their produce at mandis only.

The target is to procure 20,000 MT of cotton in the current season and the minimum support price of `3,000 has been fixed per quintal by the Government.

The cotton farmers alleged that since cotton is being purchased at only one mill point of Kesinga, dalals are reaping profit after visiting cotton-producing villages and lifting cotton from the farmers. The farmers are not getting the actual price. They added that whereas cotton should be sold at `3,600 per quintals as per the prevailing market rate, the dalals are lifting cotton at `3,400 at the villages.

A long discussion was held with Sub-Collector of Bhawanipatna Jagannath Mohanty, who took a final decision that the mandis would be continued. He assured the farmers that the dalals would be arrested and all farmers would be paid account payee cheques. No cash payment would be allowed, he added.

Mohanty also appealed to the farmers to make a phone call when they are cheated by the dalals so that the police, RMC and Sub-Collector would catch them red-handed. He further appealed to the farmers not to hand over their documents to the dalals. On the demand for closure of trading at Konark Spinning Mill, he said the Collector would take a final decision in this regard.

Finally, the farmers withdrew their strike.