Ramanathapuram Market Cotton Prices Fall by 40%, and Farmers Request Government Assistance
Despite a strong yield, cotton farmers in Ramanathapuram are struggling to secure favorable prices for their harvest. Prices have dropped by over 40% compared to last year and off-season rates, falling below Rs 50 per kg in the open market. Both traders and farmers are troubled by the declining demand and are calling on the state government for support.
Cotton is the second most cultivated crop in Ramanathapuram, following paddy, covering over 9,000 hectares. An increase in acreage by 1,000 hectares has been noted as farmers opted for cotton cultivation for a second season. The harvest season, which began in March, is now nearing its end.
Officials from the Agriculture Marketing Department have stated that they offer assistance to farmers in selling cotton through regulated markets, as most cotton is currently sold in open markets. As of Wednesday, cotton prices ranged from Rs 49 to Rs 55 per kg, depending on quality.
"Last year, cotton prices ranged from Rs 70 to Rs 100 per kg. This year, there's been a significant drop, making it difficult to afford enough workers for the harvest season, as each worker needs to be paid over Rs 250 per day, leading to substantial losses for farmers," said Selvam, a cotton farmer.
"Many cotton mills have shut down, and the remaining few are reluctant to purchase cotton. We have sufficient stock, but mills are not willing to buy it, putting us in a financial crisis. The second-season cotton is of inferior quality, which could be why prices have plummeted below Rs 50. Despite the losses, we buy cotton to stay in business," said Sivakumar, a cotton trader.
P. Suresh, a cotton farmer and trader, remarked, "Most farmers grow conventional cotton varieties, which have poor demand due to inferior quality. The state government should promote hybrid seed cultivation, which could lead to higher demand and better quality cotton. Farmers should also plan to harvest in the off-season, when demand is high and prices are better."
He added that although the union government has set the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for cotton at Rs 70, the market price is much lower. He urged the government to purchase cotton at MSP, similar to paddy, to aid farmers.
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