CAI PRESIDENT INTERVIEW IN CNBC AWAZ - SUBJECT CCI NOT PURCHASING COTTON ON MSP RATE
Q 1.
Atul sir, we are already in the year of lower sowing and lower production so we understand farmers are unhappy above this news coming CCI is not buying kapas from farmers at MSP price due to excess moisture, we come to know that CAI has taken up the matter to textile ministry what you want to say about this?
Ans.:
I wish happy Diwali and prosperous New Year to all CNBC viewers,
actually CAI has received letter from Maharashtra cotton growing farmers and 1 big Maharashtra FPO having 30,000 cotton farmers members they have informed to CAI that CCI is not buying cotton at MSP rate because of excess moisture.
To help cotton growing farmers CAI has written a letter to Shri Giriraj Singh, union textile minister and requested him to inform CCI to facilitate farmers who are having moisture upto 18% against CCI rule of 12% moisture this will be a big help in Diwali festival to the poor farmers from government.
Q 2.
Has in the past CCI given relaxation ??and why the moisture is higher in cotton this season?
Why farmers don’t hold kapas until cci to start Purchasing
Ans.
Actually, last 15 days continue rain on standing crops has brought excess moisture in the cotton, picked by the farmers from the fields. It is not farmers mistake it is Gods wish, ,
Problem is Farmers can not store this moisture cotton in to their house
farmers have worked hard for 4 months and due to wet cotton they are selling cotton at Rs.3000 to Rs.6000 per quintal in open market which is much much lower rate of government fixed MSP of Rs.7521/-
Indian farmers are already suffering with very low yield of 434 kg last 5 years average and now they are not getting price of cotton this both things together will bring down the overall income of farmers very low per hectare and textile industry is being afraid that this lower income of cotton growing farmers will take them away from growing cotton to other higher income crops.
Already our cotton sowing has come down from 135 lakh hectare to 113 lakh hectare this year. If lower income will continue and cotton farmers will reduce further cotton growing in the next season then India will become net importer country like our neighbours Pakistan and Bangladesh.
Also, our hard earned foreign exchange will go for a big import of cotton bill
we hope textile ministry and secretariat will take this matter seriously and they will allow CCI to facilitate farmers upto 18% moisture.
Thanks.