Cotton Farmers Struggle with Labour Costs and Declining Profits
By 2024-07-10 11:46:55
Cotton Growers Face Labor Expenses and Falling Profits
Cotton, once hailed as “White Gold” by farmers in Akola, has now become a crop of "compulsion." Farmers in Maharashtra are grappling with high production costs and labour concerns, finding cotton less profitable than it once was.
Ganesh Nanote, a farmer from Akola who cultivates cotton on 15 of his 40-acre holding in the village of Nimbhara in Barsitakli taluka, describes the annual increase in production costs, particularly for labour, as making the crop almost non-viable. "But there is no other option – tur, urad, and other pulses have their own problems. Farmers take cotton out of compulsion and not profit anymore," he explains.
This year, cotton traders nationwide fear a 10-15% decrease in planting area, driven by low prices and disappointing yields. The shift is especially evident in North India, where farmers are opting for paddy over cotton, despite a higher government-declared Minimum Support Price (MSP) of Rs 7,121/quintal. Bhagirath Choudhary, founder director of the South Asia Biotechnology Centre (SABC), attributes the shift largely to the Pink Bollworm infestation (PBW), a notorious pest affecting cotton crops. "The agriculture department needs to increase awareness among farmers on pest control," he adds.
Pradeep Jain, founder president of the Khandesh Cotton Gin/Press Factory Owners and Traders Development Association, notes a 20% decline in cotton sowing areas in North Maharashtra. "Farmers did not get yield or price as per their expectation. Many have shifted to maize, pulses, and other crops," he says. Nationwide, he speculates a 10% decrease in cotton acreage for the upcoming season.
