Maharashtra to study Telangana cotton subsidy.
Maharashtra's marketing minister, Abdul Sattar, announced the state will send an official delegation to Telangana to study the differences in cotton subsidies. This move comes amid demands from both ruling and opposition members for better financial support for cotton growers.
Sattar expressed the government's openness to revising financial assistance and stated that the Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) would begin procuring cotton during Diwali to ensure growers receive fair prices.
Currently, CCI has purchased 1.2 lakh quintals, while private buyers have purchased 3.16 lakh quintals. The Centre has raised the cotton procurement price by Rs 500 to Rs 7,521 per quintal for long thread cotton.
Despite this increase, members like Vijay Wadettiwar argued that growers often sell at lower prices due to CCI’s restrictive conditions. The recent import of 15 lakh bales has also depressed prices.
Wadettiwar and others called for an increase in the subsidy from Rs 5,000 per hectare to help farmers cope with production costs. Yashomati Thakur highlighted the high per-acre cost of cotton cultivation and urged for subsidies similar to Telangana’s.