Scraping duty on cotton imports a death warrant for cotton growers: SKM
The SKM termed the step as akin to a death warrant for cotton growers across the country.
"The elimination of import duty will have a direct impact on the domestic price of cotton. Cotton prices will definitely fall, and farmers will face further distress and indebtedness. It is betrayal and duplicity of the govt," the SKM stated on Tuesday, the day the import duty relaxation came into force.
The Union finance ministry on Monday notified the elimination of the 11% duty on cotton imports with immediate effect, which shall remain in force until Sept 30.
The govt said the elimination of import duty on cotton, as well as the Agriculture Infrastructure Development Cess (AIDC), was necessary in the public interest.
Cotton farmers have not been getting the MSP as per the C2+50% formula for many years. As per the minimum support price announced by the Commission for Agriculture Cost and Prices (CACP) for kharif crops in the year 2025, the MSP for cotton is Rs 7,710 for medium staple, which is Rs 2,365 less as compared to Rs 10,075 – the MSP that works out as per the C2+50% formula, claimed the farmers' body.
The entire cotton area is the highest peasant suicide-prone region of India. The elimination of import duty on cotton will further eliminate the livelihood of lakhs of cotton farmers, the SKM added.
In India, the area under cotton cultivation is around 120.55 lakh hectares, which represents about 36% of the world's total cotton area. The country is the world's largest in terms of cotton acreage. Approximately 67% of India's cotton cultivation relies on rain-fed areas, mentioned the SKM.
The SKM called upon the cotton farmers to hold village-level meetings, adopt resolutions, and send these to the Prime Minister, urging him to withdraw the notification immediately and announce an MSP for cotton at Rs 10,075 per quintal.
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