Cotton farmers assured of procurement

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, October 17

To discuss the issue of procurement of cotton, a meeting of representatives of the BKU Ekta Ugrahan and the Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) was convened at the District Administrative Complex here on Thursday.

On Wednesday, members of the farmers’ body allegedly held a CCI official captive at Sangat Mandi for not initiating cotton procurement by the government agency.

Prior to the meeting, the farmers’ union members raised slogans against the government and demanded that cotton must be procured by government agencies.

The representatives of the BKU Ekta Ugrahan said the meeting with the Bathinda ADC and CCI officials was fruitful.

Jasvir Singh Sidhu, a member of the union, said, “The ADC (D) has given us assurance that the CCI would start the procurement of cotton at every mandi across the district. The woes of the farmers will come to an end if the government agency starts procuring cotton.”

Kulwant Singh, another member of the union, said, “On Wednesday, during the procurement of cotton, a machine measuring moisture content was showing some reading. As one of the farmers pointed it out, a verbal duel was exchanged. Later, a CCI official was held captive by farmers. Later around 10 pm, Sangat block tehsildar and DSP Gurjit Singh Romana intervened in the matter to end the deadlock. They assured farmers that a meeting would be arranged with the district administration to find out a viable solution to the problem.”

The representatives of the BKU Ekta Ugrahan have threatened to intensify their struggle if the CCI drags its feet from procurement.