Aurangabad: ₹191 Crore Aid Announced for 6 Lakh Cotton Growers
By 2024-07-06 11:09:51
₹191 Crore in Aid Announced for 6 Lakh Cotton Growers in Aurangabad
Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar District Farmers to Receive Government Compensation for Crop Losses
In Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district, around 6 lakh farmers have faced significant losses in their cotton crops, which covered an area of 3.84 lakh hectares. The state government has announced a financial aid package of ₹191.50 crore to assist these farmers.
For the past two years, cotton growers have suffered substantial losses due to plummeting cotton prices. In response, the state government committed to providing compensation of ₹5,000 per hectare to affected cotton farmers. This aid will soon be disbursed to the 6 lakh farmers in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar who experienced these losses.
In contrast to Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, other districts in Marathwada have seen a significant decline in cotton production over the past decade. Farmers in these areas have increasingly shifted to soybean cultivation. However, farmers in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar continue to cultivate cotton, often referred to as "white gold."
During the last Kharif season, cotton was planted on approximately 80% of the cultivated land in the district, equating to about 3.84 lakh hectares. Over the past two years, cotton prices have dropped to ₹6,500 per quintal, and production has halved due to inadequate rainfall last year.
Given these challenges, the state government has announced compensation of ₹5,000 per hectare for up to two hectares of land per farmer. As preparations for the upcoming Kharif season are underway, this announcement has brought much-needed relief and optimism to the farmers in the district.
