Hyderabad: The Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) has strongly criticized the Finance Ministry’s decision to remove the 11% import duty and Agricultural Infrastructure Development Cess (AIDC) on cotton. This change took effect on August 19 and will remain until September 30, 2025. The government claims this is in the “public interest,” but SKM argues it harms cotton farmers facing low prices and debt.
SKM accuses Prime Minister Narendra Modi of not keeping his promises to farmers, questioning his priorities. They believe eliminating the import duty will lead to a surge of cheap cotton imports, reducing prices and worsening financial troubles for many cotton farming families. These regions already experience high farmer suicide rates, and SKM fears this policy may worsen the situation.
The Modi government has not adopted the Minimum Support Price (MSP) formula of C2+50% for cotton, despite demands. For the 2025 Kharif season, the announced MSP is Rs 7,710 per quintal, falling Rs 2,365 short of the C2+50% recommended rate of Rs 10,075. SKM claims this gap shows neglect of cotton farmers’ needs.
India dedicates 120.55 lakh hectares to cotton, representing 36% of the world’s cotton area. Maharashtra is the top cotton-growing state, followed by Gujarat and Telangana. With 67% of cotton farming relying on rain, these areas are vulnerable to market and climate changes. SKM urges cotton farmers to hold village meetings, pass resolutions, and demand the government reverse the duty removal and set an MSP of Rs 10,075 per quintal. They also remind the government of its 2014 election promise to ensure fair MSP for farmers.
