Kisan Sabha Concerned Over Shrinking Cotton Acreage in Haryana; Questions Central Government Policies
The Haryana unit of the All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) has expressed serious concern over the continuously declining acreage of cotton cultivation in the state. The organization states that this drop in cotton production could have a far-reaching impact on farmers' incomes, the rural economy, and the country's cotton sector. This issue was discussed in detail during a meeting of the AIKS state-level committee held in Rohtak on Monday.
It was noted during the meeting that the area under cotton cultivation is steadily shrinking in Haryana's major cotton-producing districts—Sirsa, Fatehabad, Hisar, Bhiwani, Rewari, and Mahendragarh. Blaming the central government's policies for this trend, Kisan Sabha leaders stated that farmers are moving away from cotton cultivation because they are not receiving remunerative prices or adequate protection.
The meeting was presided over by AIKS State President Master Balbir Singh. Criticizing the central government's decision to remove the 11 percent import duty on cotton, he argued that this would increase pressure from cheap imported cotton and cause losses to domestic producers. According to him, this decision could further weaken the position of cotton farmers who are already grappling with economic challenges.
Highlighting the struggle of farmers in Bhiwani and Dadri, AIKS National Vice President Inderjit Singh noted that farmers had agitated for nearly ten months to secure insurance claims for Kharif crops damaged in 2023. Following sustained pressure, the government approved compensation of ₹375 crore for crop loss, yet several issues regarding its disbursement persist. He demanded that the approved compensation amount be transferred to the farmers' accounts without delay.
Dissatisfaction was also expressed regarding the recently announced Minimum Support Price (MSP) for Kharif crops. Farmer leaders argued that the hike in MSP is insufficient given the rising costs of cultivation and is unlikely to provide the expected relief to farmers.
