Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) president Sharad Pawar slammed the BJP governments at the centre and the state for ignoring farmers in the state. He said cotton farmers in Vidarbh-Marathawada-Khandesh were facing huge problems.
"Due to scarcity of rain, cotton productions has dwindled. And in spite of low production, the crop is not getting proper rate. The BJP government has also stopped procuring cotton from this year. So, where will farmers go and sell their crops? Similar is the case of sugarcane farmers. Earlier, the state government was giving Rs 300 per quintal (100kg) as subsidy to farmers, the new government has stopped that. And as a result, farmers will not get good rates for their crops," said Pawar.
On Oct 8, dna had reported that cotton-growing farmers were demanding a rate of Rs 7,000 per quintal against the government rate of Rs 4,050. And farmers had threatened to launch chakka jam (blocking highways) agitation against the government if their demands are not met.
Pawar said the BJP government should take the farmers' issue seriously. "The government should find an immediate solution. Farmers should not be deprived through wrong and anti-farmer policies. NCP leaders will raise this issue in the House," said Pawar.
Vijay Jawandia, farmer leader, said Pawar should demand banning the import of cotton. "Pawar should be more vocal about the demands of the cotton farmers as he's about the demands of sugarcane farmers. If government agencies stop buying cotton, market rate will go down. To protect farmers' interests, the government should put a cap on import of cotton and start buying cotton.
"The issue of cotton is not restricted to Maharashtra. Cotton farmers in Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh are also suffering. Farmers had overwhelmingly voted for the BJP to make Narendra Modi the prime minister. Now Modi should look after them. As of now, no one is paying serious attention to their problems and demands," said Jawandia.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}