T'gana BJP demands bonus of Rs 500 on MSP for cotton farmers

Hyderabad: BJP today demanded that the Telangana government should provide a bonus of Rs 500 on minimum support price (MSP) and take other measures to help cotton farmers in the state.

Noting that Telangana is the second largest producer of cotton in the country, Telangana BJP president G Kishan Reddy said the Cotton Corporation of India (CCI), a Central Government organisation, is ready to make purchases till the last farmer brings his produce. He said paying a bonus of Rs 500 on the MSP would help the farmers.

Saying that the Maharashtra government is also making purchases from farmers through its own agencies, Reddy demanded that the Telangana government take such an initiative. The state government should provide staff on a temporary basis to CCI in the process of purchases as it runs on inadequate staff, he said.

Referring to a letter reportedly written by Telangana Marketing Minister T Harish Rao to the Centre that the MSP be raised, among other things, the BJP leader said the state government should take responsibility for the benefit of farmers instead of leaving it to the Centre.
Source: PTI