70% of cotton produced In the country is marketed by Private Trade under the banner of East India Cotton Association (EICA). The remaining 30% is marketed by the Cotton Corporation of India Ltd. (CCI), a Public Sector Undertaking under the Ministry of Textiles, Government of India, Maharashtra State Cotton Growers' Cooperative Marketing Federation(MSCGCMF) (for Maharashtra only) and to some extent by other State Cooperative Cotton Growers' Federations.
(ii)
There are about 700 regulated markets apart from a large number of sub-yards trading in cotton. The markets are under the control of Agriculture Produce Market Committees under the Directorate of Agriculture Marketing of the States. Cotton is marketed through • Commission Agents in most of the States except Madhya Pradesh.
Objectives of Mini Mission III
Under Cotton Technology Mission on cotton, the objective of Mini Mission III will be improvement in the marketing infrastructure for cotton. The Ministry of Textiles is to act as the Nodal Agency.
Present Marketing Infrastructure In various Cotton growing states
(i)
Cotton growers face difficulties in marketing their kapas wherever the regulated markets either do not exist or are dormant or their functioning is tardy.
(ii)
In parts of Gujarat, particularly Saurashtra and Kutch, regulated markets are either absent or not functioning properly. In Andhra Pradesh, though marketing Infrastructure is developed and regulated markets function in Adoni, Warangal and Adilabad areas but still there is good scope for further improvement Regulated markets are either dormant or not functioning properly in coastal areas of Prakasam and Guntur districts. In Tamil Nadu, barring few places, regulated markets need improvement Marketing scenario in North India, however, is comparatively better but still there is good scope for farther improvement by way of providing certain facilites/infrastructure, which do not now exist
Shortcomings
(i)
Inadequate infra structure: A number of regulated markets in various cotton growing States do not have adequate space for storage of kapas brought to the market for sale by cotton growers and holding auctions by market committees.
(ii)
Lack of covered sheds and fire fighting facilities;
Similarly, in most of the regulated markets, the basic facility like covered sheds for storage of kapas brought by the cotton growers for auction.
(iii)
Village Sales; In the States like Punjab and Haryana kapas is traded in good quantity outside the regulated markets at the village level by private negotiations. In the coastal Andhra Pradesh districts of Guntur & Prakasam and Saurashtra 8c Kutch areas of Gujarat, village sales are very high. The disadvantages suffered by the farmers as a result of marketing of their produce at the village level could be overcome by development of necessary infrastructural facilities including setting up of more regulated markets in the vicinity of cotton growing villages.
(iv)
Lack of grading facilities :
Most of the Cotton Market Yards in the country also do not have grading/testing laboratories with consequent improper evaluation of the quality of cotton.
(v)
Implementation of Act; A study of the functioning of regulated markets in various cotton growing States reveals that the implementation of the Agricultural Produce Marketing Regulation Act leaves much to be desired.
