The CCI chief informed the chief minister that a total quantity of 3,22,918 quintals of cotton was purchased as on April 1, 1999 with a model price of Rs 2000 in Warangal, Rs 1963 at Parkal, Rs 1910 at Adoni and Rs 1980 in Guntur markets, an official release said.

Naidu held a review meeting with the CCI chairman Viswanath and officials of the agriculture and marketing departments about the cotton growers' problems and cotton purchases at secretariat here, it said. Naidu asked the CCI and markfed officials to step up the purchase and also maintain the purchase prices at an average of Rs 2000-2100 to help the famrers to get remunerative prices and mitigate their problems.

Minister for agriculture, Vidyadhara Rao, minister for marketing, Yella Reddy, principal secretary, agriculture, Jannat Hussain, commissioner,marketing, Reddaiah and other officials attended the meeting, the release said.