Will increase farm suicide and distress: Cotton growers protest removal of import duty on cotton
On Tuesday, the central government declared the removal of the 11 per cent import duty on cotton. This move has been welcomed by the Textile Trade, saying imports would help in reducing the stress on the industry due to higher prices of domestic produce.
Laximkant Kauthakar, Vidarbha president of Shetkari Sanghatana said this move would result in distress for cotton growers in Marathwada and Vidarbha, 'Even before the present crop has hit the market, prices are below the government declared Minimum Support Price (MSP) of Rs 7,710/quintal (medium staple). Once the new crop comes in it would dip further. With imports now threatening to flood the market, we can't imagine how the prices would react,' he said. Kauthankar who himself is a cotton farmer from Akola, Maharashtra said this move might push more farmers to die by suicide.
Atul Ganatra, president of the Cotton Association of India (CAI)- the apex body of cotton value change in the country- however said this move will not affect the domestic prices. 'The domestic produce would arrive post October so the imports would help the price stressed textile industry,' he said.
Meanwhile, Manikrao Kadam, a farm leader from Marathwada area of Maharashtra said the government has buckled under pressure from the US government. 'All talks about protecting the farmer have been in vain,' he said.
Similarly, Vijay Jawandhiya, a farm leader from Vidarbha went on to add that this move might help the textile industry but farmers would not be helped. 'There would be continuous decline in prices with strong government intervention necessary to help the farmers. Procurement under MSP has to be buckled up,' he said.
Former MP Raju Shetti was also critical of the move. 'The government has buckled under US pressure,' he said.
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