Gajapati Cotton Farmers Struggle Without Mandis, Forced to Sell at Loss
Gajapati district’s cotton farmers are facing mounting challenges as the absence of a local mandi has left them vulnerable to exploitation by middlemen and traders from Andhra Pradesh.
Despite cultivating cotton across 2,646 hectares with an expected yield of over 52,000 quintals, farmers are unable to secure fair prices for their produce.
Heavy rains and cyclones destroyed nearly half of the crop this season, further deepening losses. While the Cotton Corporation of India has fixed the support price at Rs 8,110 per quintal, Andhra traders are purchasing cotton for as little as Rs 6,000.
Out of 733 farmers who applied through a mobile app to sell cotton, only 33 were successfully registered due to issues with land records, poor connectivity, and administrative delays.
Even registered farmers are reluctant to travel to Rayagada district mandis, leaving brokers to dominate the trade.
Local farmer associations have repeatedly urged the government to establish a mandi in Gajapati to safeguard livelihoods. They warn that if immediate steps are not taken, protests will intensify in the coming days.
