Farmers demand hike in MSP for cotton to bail out of debts

The cotton farmers want the state government to mount pressure on the central government seeking a hike in the MSP for cotton. They want to be given at least Rs 7,000-Rs 8,000 per quintal in the open market to bail them out of debts.

With rising costs due to drought-like conditions, cotton farmers have already incurred heavy loss due to crop failure. It is expected that this time the harvesting period would be delayed by two months due to last sowing. Cotton was sown in 3.10 lakh hectares in Adilabad district. The farmers said that they can be bailed out of troubles only if they get a good MSP.

Last year in the open market, farmers got nearly Rs 4,000 per quintal for cotton but the same price would not be sufficient this year, due to the heavy cost incurred this kharif. However, it is expected that the private cotton traders are likely to offer good price for cotton than the MSP announced by the central government as the cotton yield is likely to drop heavily this year, when compared to last year.

The central government announced an MSP of Rs 4,050 for fine quality cotton and Rs 3,750 for medium quality for kharif 2014-15.

According to Kotnak Ramesh of Ruyyadi village in Talamadudu mandal, the Centre should doubt the present MSP to save the distressed farmers as most of the farmers had to go for a third sowing. Moreover farmers who sowed on 20 acres, seeds germinated only in 6 acres. As the result, they have incurred a loss of Rs 70,000 due to crop failure.

Many farmers have pinned hopes that the Centre announce a bonus on the already declared MSP of Rs 4,050 per quintal for kharif 2014-15. Price at Rs 6,000 per quintal would be the ideal MSP for their produce.