Cotton MSP issue: BKS leaders hold meeting with Gujarat govt

Rajkot, 3 December 2014

Leaders of Bharatiya Kisan Sangh(BKS), the strongest farmers’ organization in Gujarat has held meeting with the state government in presence of ministers Bhupendrasinh Chudasama, Babubhai Bokhiriya, Govindbhai Patel, Jashabhai Barad, Chief Secretary and Cotton Corporation of India(CCI) officials in Gandhinagar over the issue of increase in minimum support price of cotton.

According to BKS, Gujarat unit president Prafulbhai Senjaliya, one of the discussion points was opening 50 more CCI purchase centers. At present only 40 centers are opened for purchase of cotton across Gujarat. The other point of discussion according to Senjaliya was proposal of Rs.200/20kg bonus by state government over existing MSP price.

BKS sees possibility of Rs. 100 increase in MSP and announcement on more CCI purchase centers.BKS expects some decision on cotton issue in today’s weekly cabinet meeting of state cabinet in Gandhinagar.

BKS has also communicated the state government that centre should double the duty on import and declare subsidy on export.

Both BKS and ruling BJP(in centre and state) are part of same umbrella organization – RSS. While farmers are strongly associated with BKS, the Congress party lately in an attempt to show some presence on ground has planned road-block programme opposite Rajkot yard on Morbi road.

Most of the farmers in urban and semi-urban areas of Saurashtra have stored their cotton stock to sell it at better price which they think the central government will offer following BKS agitation that has been limited to some rallies, some statements and some meetings in Saurashtra region so far. While effective MSP offered by CCI is Rs. 820/20Kg for good quality cotton, the farmers believe it should be at least above Rs. 1,000/20Kg.

MSP of cotton has doubled in last 9 years. But farmers say they need even higher MSP due to growing input cost. Cotton prices are down worldwide this year due to overstock situation that has kept away China from purchase. Following not-so-good monsoon this year, many farmers who are into ground nut farming shifted to more durable cotton crop.

Read more:Cotton prices down globally, rural Saurashtra seeks hike in MSP