Maharashtra to put in writing to Centre, urge rollback of cotton seed value hike

The Maharashtra authorities has objected to the Centre’s determination to extend Bt Cotton seed costs, with state agriculture minister Dadasaheb Bhuse Wednesday saying they might write to the Union authorities demanding a rollback.
The state authorities believes any enhance in enter value throughout khariff sowing, particularly amid the Covid-19 pandemic, will compound farmers’ monetary issues, sources mentioned. Maharashtra cotton cultivators are already grappling with pink bollworm pest assault, and in search of methods to keep away from “dobar perni”, or second sowing
In a notification, the Centre has said that the value of Bt Cotton seeds could be raised to Rs 767 for a 450-gram packet. Earlier, this was Rs 730, thus amounting to a rise of Rs 37 per 450-gram packet.
The hike will adversely have an effect on the small and marginal farmers cultivating cotton within the backward Vidarbha and Marathwada areas.
Last kharif, the Minimum Support Price for cotton was Rs 5,500 per quintal. The state registered a document manufacturing of 407 lakh quintal (180 lakh bales every weighing 170 kg), throughout an space of 44 lakh hectares.
The state financial survey 2020-21 has predicted 33 per cent larger manufacturing of cotton on this kharif season.
At a gathering on Wednesday to plan pre-kharif preparations for cotton, Bhuse careworn on injury management measures to fight pest assaults.
Every village ought to undertake a uniform sample and supply Bt cotton seeds from the identical pattern, he mentioned. This scheme, referred to as ek gaon, ek vaan, plans to make sure each village makes use of high-quality cotton seeds sourced from one firm. This, official mentioned, would assist curb substandard seeds provide, because the id of the corporate and the seed grade could be identified to each farmer. In case of any drawback, the administration, too, will discover it simpler to take motion in opposition to the corporate.
Apart from high quality cotton seeds, the agriculture division has given directions to farmers to make use of fertilisers judiciously and after satisfactory session with specialists.
Agriculture centres in each taluka will handhold the farmers to chase away any issues in the course of the kharif sowing, which begins mid-June, authorities sources mentioned.