A delay in Cotton Corporation of India’s procurement process triggered a farmer protest and temporary lockout at the Anand Nagar cotton mandi in Khargone on Tuesday, disrupting vehicle movement and leaving cotton-laden farmers waiting inside and outside the market. Officials later assured protesters that slot booking would begin on October 12 and procurement would start on October 15.
Farmers locked the mandi’s main gate under the banner of the Rashtriya Kisan Mazdoor Mahasangh, demanding that government procurement begin immediately as cotton from the summer crop started arriving. The action caused a traffic pile-up within and outside the market. Vehicles carrying cotton that had already been auctioned could not leave, while farmers bringing fresh produce were forced to wait outside.
The protest also led to disagreement among farmers. Some objected to the lockout because they wanted to move their cotton to ginning units. Auctioned vehicles were later permitted to exit through another gate, easing part of the congestion.
Tehsildar Vijay Sisodia, SDOP Saurabh Tomar and mandi secretary Sharmila Nimama reached the market and attempted to negotiate with the protesters. Farmers initially refused to withdraw the lockout until an official procurement date was announced. Mahasangh leaders said they had submitted a memorandum to market authorities several days earlier and had warned them that the market could be locked if procurement did not begin.
Similar protests were reported at cotton markets in Bhikangaon, Kasrawad, Maheshwar, Karhi and Sanawad, according to the report. The spread of demonstrations across multiple market locations points to a wider coordination problem between farmers, market committees and the procurement agency, although the supplied information does not establish the reasons for the procurement delay.
The situation at Anand Nagar eased after officials connected the farmers by phone with CCI regional officer Shubham Shukla. Shukla assured them that slot booking would open on October 12, followed by procurement on October 15. Farmers then removed the lock, mandi secretary Nimama said.
The protest was also marked by the death of a farmer on the market premises. Ashok, 53, from the Lepa rehabilitation area, fell ill after participating in the day’s activity and was taken to hospital, where doctors declared him dead. His brother Santosh said Ashok had brought his cotton to the mandi on Sunday and became ill after Tuesday’s auction.
Kotwali police station in-charge BL Mandloi said Ashok was preparing to leave after selling his cotton when he suffered a heart attack. The incident occurred amid the congestion and tension at the market, but the supplied report does not link the death to the procurement dispute.
The immediate next steps are the opening of slot bookings on October 12 and the start of CCI procurement on October 15. Farmers and market authorities will now have to manage arrivals, auctions, vehicle movement and access to ginning facilities while the procurement process resumes.
