Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Friday requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi to direct the Cotton Corporation of India to start procuring cotton in Tamil Nadu. He also requested them to direct the Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare to make the Kharif Minimum Support Price (MSP) for cotton in the state effective from June 1 in the coming years.
In a letter, Mr. Stalin highlighted the plight of cotton farmers due to steep fall in cotton prices during the current crop season. Although the previous year had proved highly profitable for cotton farmers, as they sold cotton at ₹12,000 per quintal, they were finding themselves in a tight spot as prices fell to ₹5,500 per quintal.
Tamil Nadu has two unique seasons for cotton: rice fallow and summer irrigated in which sowing is done in February-March and harvesting starts in the first week of June. Cotton has been grown in about 84,000 acres in these two seasons. “As harvesting of rice fallow cotton is in full swing, appeals on behalf of Tamil Nadu farmers to invite Cotton Corporation of India to start its procurement in Tamil Nadu and to extend the observance of Kharif MSP for cotton till June 1 every year Has been. Cotton prices are expected to fall to ₹5,500 per quintal,'' he said.
The Chief Minister said that the MSP fixed by the Central Government has played an important role in stabilizing the prices of agricultural commodities. In Tamil Nadu, the procurement activities of the Cotton Corporation of India at MSP in the last few years have been very helpful in stabilizing the cotton prices. Recently, the Government of India has fixed the MSP of medium staple cotton at ₹6,620 per quintal and long staple cotton at ₹7,020 per quintal for 2023-24, an increase of ₹540 and ₹640 per quintal, respectively, over the previous year. There is growth.
Recalling the support extended by the Prime Minister in extending the MSP for paddy by a month last year when the Kuruvai paddy season was extended by a month, the Chief Minister instructed the Cotton Corporation of India to start cotton requested to give. Directing the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare to make procurement in Tamil Nadu and Kharif MSP for cotton in Tamil Nadu effective from June 1 in the coming years.
Mr. Stalin said, “This step will provide much-needed relief to distressed cotton growers in the state by stabilizing prices and ensuring fair income for their produce.” A copy of the letter was shared with the media.
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