Farmers in the Vidarbha region of western Indian state of Maharashtra have demanded that the minimum support price (MSP) of cotton be raised to Rs. 6000 per quintal from the existing MSP of Rs. 3900 per quintal. They have also urged the Central Government for a special package in the Union Budget.
Speaking to fibre2fashion, Mr. Kishore Tiwari, president of Vidarbha Jan Andolam Samiti, said, “Vidarbha farmers need special package from the Central Government in the Union Budget, which is to be presented in the Parliament later this month.”
Talking about the demands of Vidarbha farmers, he says, “The cultivation cost of cotton has tripled in the last two years, so the MSP of cotton should be raised to Rs. 6000 per quintal.”
“We have also demanded direct cash subsidy for procuring seeds and fertilizers for cultivating cotton crops,” he informs.
Mr. Tiwari urges, “The Central Government should procure the old cotton through agencies like the Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) and the National Bank of Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD).”
