Venkaiah directs CCI to open cotton purchasing centres

Hyderabad: Union Minister M Venkaiah Naidu on Monday directed the Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) to open 58 cotton purchasing centres in full scale in Telangana and start the purchases before October 23.

The Union Urban Development Minister, who held a review meeting here, also suggested the CCI officials to use necessary instruments for determining the moisture content in cotton.

The officials informed the minister that the Corporation is in the process of opening 84 centres in Telangana state. Stressing that the Government is determined to solve cotton farmers' problems, Naidu said the CCI should take necessary steps to ensure that the farmers are not cheated by brokers.

Payments to farmers should be made transparently... online and the CCI should buy cotton only from the farmers, who have necessary identity cards, Venkaiah Naidu said. Union Minister of State (independent charge) for Labour Bandaru Dattatreya also participated in the meeting.

Source: PTI