VIDARBHA JANANDOLAN SAMITI
11, Trisaran Society, In front of Somalwar School, Khamla, Nagpur – 440 025
Tel No. (0712) 2282457 Mob No. 9422108846 / 9371137653 / 9373121947
=====================================================================
Ref : VJAS/GOI/MOA/CACP/Cotton MSP/1180/07 9th October, 2007
To,
1) Dr. Shri Manmohan Singh
Hon’ble Prime Minister of India.
New Delhi.
2) Shri Sharad Pawar,
Hon’ble Union Minister for Agriculture,
Govt. of India, New Delhi.
Sub: It is great inequality, discrimination and injustice with the Dying Cotton Cultivating Farmers of Vidarbha :
Request to Enhance & Re-fix Minimum Support Price (MSP) of Cotton at Rs.2780/- per Quintal for Kharif Season 2007-08, modifying the recommendations of CACP at par with Wheat Cultivating North & East India Farmers.
Ref: Abnormal increase in cost of production of Cotton and declining Rate of Returns, ruining the Agricultural Economy of Cotton Cultivating Vidarbha Region of Maharashtra State – continued spate of unfortunate suicides of the farmers in the region.
Dear Sir,
Further to our representations submitted on 03/03/2007 & 17/06/2007, we would like to draw your immediate kind attention as follows that,
1) It is the matter of great surprise and rude shock that, the Govt. of India has caused great inequality, discrimination, and injustice upon the Cotton Cultivating farmers of India, specially the Vidarbha Region of Maharashtra State as their demand to enhance & re-fix MSP of cotton has not been considered, whereas the Wheat Cultivating Farmers from North & East India have been given substantial increase of 33% in MSP of Wheat.
The Govt. of India while doing justice to the Wheat Cultivating Farmers to give better remunerative prices for their Wheat agro produce, have caused great inequality, discrimination and injustice upon the Cotton Cultivating Farmers by increasing the MSP merely by 2% as compared to last year. Though, Wheat and Cotton both cultivating farmers needs remunerative & affordable support prices to their respective produce, it seems the Govt. has applied different and distinct / separate yardsticks – rules – scales while fixing the MSP of Cotton and Wheat. It is the classic example of inequality before law and thus, the Govt. has violated the Principles of Equality laid down in the Article - 14 of the Constitution of India and thus, caused discrimination & injustice upon the lacs of cotton cultivating farmers especially in the Vidarbha Region, who are all in extreme distress & are witnessing the unpresented economic crisis compelling them to commit suicides due to non remunerative, non affordable and unrealistic prices to the Cotton Produce. By extending the benefit of increased remunerative support prices for Wheat, Gram, Mustard, etc. farmers Govt. of India has denied the same level playing field and thus also caused violation of Principle laid down in Article – 19(1)(g) of the Constitution of India.
2) You are aware that, ours is the movement fighting for the cause of farmers and we have been pursuing the issue of remunerative affordable prices to the agriculture produce including cotton which is the only cash crop of the poor farmers in the Vidarbha Region of Maharashtra State. Since 1996-97, our organization is consistently demanding the increase in the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for the agro produced cotton, which are being fixed on the recommendations of your High-Power Commission which is working for the agriculture cost & prices in India for protection of the farmers and agriculture community at large. We enclosed herewith the chart of MSP fixed for cotton during last 10 years, which shows that the price increase is merely 3% per annum in an average, if we consider the MSP for cotton fixed @ Rs.1530/- in 1997-98 and @ Rs. 1990/- for the season 2006-07.
3) Sir, we have been apprising you that Vidarbha being rainfed area which is solely dependant on the natural / monsoon rains always experienced low yield of cotton as compared to other States in India. Now, due to abnormal increase in the high cost of production and consistent low yield due to many reasons, cotton cultivating farmers in the Vidarbha Region are suffering extremely and their economical condition is deteriorating year by year.
4) You are also aware that, due to introduction of high cost BT Cotton Seeds, the cost of production has almost doubled, but due to the rainfed area, per hectare cotton production / yield in Vidarbha is as low as 160KG (1.6 Quintal) per hector(This is as per report submitted to PMO by relief commissioner as on 10th October-2006 on vidarbha agrarian crisis) which is extremely low. As a result of this average yield of 2.3 to 2.5 Quintal per hectare, on the present cotton MSP F414 quality @ Rs.1770/- per Quintal and H4 Quality @ Rs.1990/- per Quintal, it is very difficult for the cotton cultivating farmers to survive.
5) We have also apprised you that, this has ultimately resulted in extremely poor economic condition being deteriorated further and now this situation is such a volatile and unfortunate that, hundreds of cotton cultivating farmers have committed suicides. It’s a matter of National Shame. If we believe the Govt. figures of such unfortunate incidence of suicides, more than 7500 farmers have committed suicides since 2001-02. This unfortunate number of suicides are increasing day by day even after the continued efforts of the State Govt. as well as the Central Govt. The Packages announced have virtually failed to give any immediate relief to the dying cotton cultivating farmers of Vidarbha Region. It is regretted that, the CACP and Govt. is not paying attention towards the increase in the prices of the cotton, which must be remunerative and give support to the farmers in Vidarbha Region. Our organization believes that, the only solution is to increase MSP of cotton so that the cotton farming can become profitable to the farmers of Vidarbha.
6) You are aware that, even after our consistent demand to increase the MSP for cotton, CACP has not considered the same and recommended MSP @ Rs.2030/- per Quintal means bare increase of Rs.40/- per Quintal as compared to last year price of Rs.1990/- per Quintal MSP of H4 Quality Cotton. It is injustice with the depressed farmers of Vidarbha Region.
7) However, while fixing the supportive prices of Wheat, Barley, Gram, Masoor, Rapseed and Sunflower, Govt. of India is kind enough & generous to increase the prices substantially to make it remunerative & affordable to the Farmers of North & East India. In a most welcome decision, Govt. of India now increased the MSP for Wheat to @ Rs.1000/- per quintal as compared to @ Rs.700/- per quintal recommended by CACP means 33% increase when compared to last year. Similarly, the prices of Barley (@ Rs.650/-), Gram (@ Rs.1600/-), Masoor (@ Rs.1700/-), Sunflower (@ Rs.1650/-) have also been increased substantially to benefit the farmers in their interest. We give below the Comparative Chart of the increased in the prices which shows at a glance picture how substantial increased have been given to the farmers of North & East India.
| Commodity | MSP of 2006-07 | MSP of 2007-08 | Amount Increase | % Increase |
| Wheat | Rs.700/- + Rs.50/- Bonus = Rs.750/- | Rs.1000/- | Rs.250/- | 33.33% |
| Barley | Rs.550/- | Rs.650/- | Rs.100/- | 18.18% |
| Gram | Rs.1425/- | Rs.1600/- | Rs.175/- | 12.28% |
| Masoor (Lentil) | Rs.1535/- | Rs.1700/- | Rs.165/- | 10.74% |
| Cotton (F414) | Rs.1770/- | Rs.1800/- | Rs.30/- | 01.69% |
| Cotton (H4) | Rs.1990/- | Rs.2030/- | Rs.40/- | 02.01% |
The bare perusal of above chart at glance reveals that the great inequality, injustice and discrimination has been caused upon the Cotton Cultivating Farmers as the Govt. of India has violated the provisions of equality as enriched in the Doctrine of Article of Equality – Article 14 of the Constitution of India. Thus, the fundamental right of the farmers have been infringed & violated. Similarly, the provisions contended in Article 19(1)(g) have also been infringed with the Govt. of India applying different & separate yardsticks & rules while fixing MSP of Agro Produce of the farmers and thus, caused indifferent, unequal and biased business opportunities to the same set & class of farmers by allowing the increase in the MSP in a different and distinct style & scale.
8) This has been done by the Govt. of India on the face of the fact that, the cotton cultivating farmers are in extreme distress situation and the situation is compelling them to commit suicides due to high cost of production of the cotton and non remunerative prices being paid to them. In fact, Govt. of India would have considered the demand of our farmers organization to allow immediate increase of MSP of Cotton in the interest of dying Cotton Cultivating Farmers, especially from the Vidarbha Region of Maharashtra State.
In light of above, the immediate intervention of Govt. of India is needed and keeping in mind the unpresented hike in the cost of production, it is urgent need of hour that the recommendations of CACP must be modified at par with Wheat & other Agro Produce to consider the increase of atleast 40% price increase while re-fixing the MSP for cotton for the Kharif Season 2007-08.
PRAYER
In view of above, applying the principles of equality and justice at par with Wheat Farmers, Govt. of India is humbly prayed to consider the 40% increase in the prices of cotton as compared to last Kharif Season 2006-07 prices and re-fix the Cotton price @ Rs.2786/- per quintal for H4 quality cotton and Rs.2478/- per quintal for F414 quality cotton to save the farmers of the Vidarbha Region.
Hence, prayed accordingly.
Thanking you,
Yours faithfully,
For VIDARBHA JANANDOLAN SAMITI
KISHORE TIWARI
PRESIDENT.
Copy to : 1) The Hon’ble Chairman,
Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP),
Deptt. of Agriculture and Cooperation,
Ministry of Agriculture, Govt. of India.
Krishi Bhawan, DR. Rajendra Prasad Road,
NEW DELHI – 110011.
Kind Attn : Prof. Dr. Shri Tajamul Haque,
CC to : His Highness Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam,
Hon’ble President of India, New Delhi.
VIDARBHA JANANDOLAN SAMITI
11, Trisaran Society, In front of Somalwar School, Khamla, Nagpur – 440 025
Tel No. (0712) 2282457 Mob No. 9422108846 / 9371137653 / 9373121947
=====================================================================
Ref : VJAS/GOI/MOA/CACP/Cotton MSP/410/07 17th June, 2007
To,
1) Dr. Shri Manmohan Singh
Hon’ble Prime Minister of India.
New Delhi.
2) Shri Sharad Pawar,
Hon’ble Union Minister for Agriculture,
Govt. of India, New Delhi.
Sub: Dying Cotton Cultivating Farmers of Vidarbha : Request to Enhance Minimum Support Price (MSP) of Cotton for Kharif Season 2007-08, modifying the recommendations of CACP.
Ref: Abnormal increase in cost of production of Cotton and declining rate of returns ruining the agricultural economy of cotton cultivating Vidarbha Region of Maharashtra State – continued suicides of the farmers in the region.
Dear Sir,
Ours is the movement fighting for the cause of farmers and we have been pursuing the issue of remunerative affordable prices to the agriculture produce including cotton which is the only cash crop of the poor farmers in the Vidarbha Region of Maharashtra State. Since 1996-97, our organization is consistently demanding the increase in the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for the agro produced cotton, which are being fixed on the recommendations of your High-Power Commission which is working for the agriculture cost & prices in India for protection of the farmers and agriculture community at large. We enclosed herewith the chart of MSP fixed for cotton during last 10 years, which shows that the price increase is merely 3% per annum in an average, if we consider the MSP for cotton fixed @ Rs.1530/- in 1997-98 and @ Rs. 1990/- for the season 2006-07.
Sir, you are aware that Vidarbha being rainfed area which is solely dependant on the natural / monsoon rains always experienced low yield of cotton as compared to other States in India. Now, due to abnormal increase in the high cost of production and consistent low yield due to many reasons, cotton cultivating farmers in the Vidarbha Region are suffering extremely and their economical condition is deteriorating year by year.
You are also aware that, due to introduction of high cost BT Cotton Seeds, the cost of production has almost doubled, but due to the rainfed area, per hectare cotton production / yield in Vidarbha is as low as 230 KG (2.3 Quintal) which is extremely low. As a result of this average yield of 2.3 to 2.5 Quintal per hectare, on the present cotton MSP F414 quality @ Rs.1770/- per Quintal and H4 Quality @ Rs.1990/- per Quintal, it is very difficult for the cotton cultivating farmers to survive.
This is ultimately resulting in extremely poor economic condition being deteriorated further and now this situation is such a volatile and unfortunate that, hundreds of cotton cultivating farmers have committed suicides. It’s a matter of National Shame. If we believe the Govt. figures of such unfortunate incidence of suicides, more than 7500 farmers have committed suicides since 2001-02. This unfortunate number of suicides are increasing day by day even after the continued efforts of the State Govt. as well as the Central Govt. The Packages announced have virtually failed to give any immediate relief to the dying cotton cultivating farmers of Vidarbha Region. It is regretted that, the CACP and Govt. is not paying attention towards the increase in the prices of the cotton, which must be remunerative and give support to the farmers in Vidarbha Region. Our organization believes that, the only solution is to increase MSP of cotton so that the cotton farming can become profitable to the farmers of Vidarbha.
It is regretted that even after our consistent demand to increase the MSP for cotton, CACP has not considered the same and recommended MSP @ Rs.2030/- per Quintal means bare increase of Rs.40/- per Quintal as compared to last year price of Rs.1990/- per Quintal MSP of H4 Quality Cotton. It is injustice with the depressed farmers of Vidarbha Region.
In light of above, the immediate intervention of Govt. of India is needed and by considering the unpresented hike in the cost of production, it is urgent need of hour that the recommendations of CACP must be modified to consider the increase of atleast 40% price increase while recommending the MSP for cotton for the Kharif Season 2007-08.
PRAYER
In view of above, Govt. of India is humbly prayed to consider the 40% increase in the prices of cotton as compared to last Kharif Season 2006-07 prices and fix the Cotton price @ Rs.2786/- per quintal for H4 quality cotton and Rs.2478/- per quintal for F414 quality cotton to save the farmers of the Vidarbha Region.
Hence, prayed accordingly.
Thanking you,
Yours faithfully,
For VIDARBHA JANANDOLAN SAMITI
KISHORE TIWARI
PRESIDENT.
Copy to : 1) The Hon’ble Chairman,
Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP),
Deptt. of Agriculture and Cooperation,
Ministry of Agriculture, Govt. of India.
Krishi Bhawan, DR. Rajendra Prasad Road,
NEW DELHI – 110011.
Kind Attn : Prof. Dr. Shri Tajamul Haque,
CC to : His Highness Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam,
Hon’ble President of India, New Delhi.
VIDARBHA JANANDOLAN SAMITI
11, Trisaran Society, In front of Somalwar School, Khamla, Nagpur – 440 025
Tel No. (0712) 2282457 Mob No. 9422108846 / 9371137653 / 9373121947
=====================================================================
Ref : VJAS/GOI/MOA/CACP/Cotton MSP/175/07 3rd March, 2007
To,
The Hon’ble Chairman,
Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP),
Deptt. of Agriculture and Cooperation,
Ministry of Agriculture, Govt. of India.
Krishi Bhawan, DR. Rajendra Prasad Road,
NEW DELHI – 110011.
Kind Attn : Prof. Dr. Shri Tajamul Haque,
Sub: Dying Cotton Cultivating Farmers of Vidarbha : Request to Enhance Minimum Support Price (MSP) of Cotton for Kharif Season 2007-08.
Ref: Abnormal increase in cost of production of Cotton and declining rate of returns ruining the agricultural economy of cotton cultivating Vidarbha Region of Maharashtra State – continued suicides of the farmers in the region.
Dear Sir,
Ours is the movement fighting for the cause of farmers and we have been pursuing the issue of remunerative affordable prices to the agriculture produce including cotton which is the only cash crop of the poor farmers in the Vidarbha Region of Maharashtra State. Since 1996-97, our organization is consistently demanding the increase in the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for the agro produced cotton, which are being fixed on the recommendations of your High-Power Commission which is working for the agriculture cost & prices in India for protection of the farmers and agriculture community at large.
Sir, you are aware that Vidarbha being rainfed area which is solely dependant on the natural / monsoon rains always experienced low yield of cotton as compared to other States in India. Now, due to abnormal increase in the high cost of production and consistent low yield due to many reasons, cotton cultivating farmers in the Vidarbha Region are suffering extremely and their economical condition is deteriorating year by year.
You are also aware that, due to introduction of high cost BT Cotton Seeds, the cost of production has almost doubled, but due to the rainfed area, per hectare cotton production / yield in Vidarbha is as low as 230 KG (2.3 Quintal) which is extremely low. As a result of this average yield of 2.3 to 2.5 Quintal per hectare, on the present cotton MSP F414 quality @ Rs.1770/- per Quintal and H4 Quality @ Rs.1990/- per Quintal, it is very difficult for the cotton cultivating farmers to survive.
This is ultimately resulting in extremely poor economic condition being deteriorated further and now this situation is such a volatile and unfortunate that, hundreds of cotton cultivating farmers have committed suicides. It’s a matter of National Shame. If we believe the Govt. figures of such unfortunate incidence of suicides, more than 7500 farmers have committed suicides since 2001-02. This unfortunate number of suicides are increasing day by day even after the continued efforts of the State Govt. as well as the Central Govt. The Packages announced have virtually failed to give any immediate relief to the dying cotton cultivating farmers of Vidarbha Region. It is regretted that, the Govt. is not paying attention towards the increase in the prices of the cotton, which must be remunerative and give support to the farmers in Vidarbha Region. Our organization believes that, the only solution is to increase MSP of cotton so that the cotton farming can become profitable to the farmers of Vidarbha.
In light of unpresented hike in the cost of production, it is urgent need of hour that the CACP must consider the increase of atleast 40% price increase while recommending the MSP for cotton for the Kharif Season 2007-08.
PRAYER
In view of above, this High-Power Commission is humbly prayed to consider the 40% increase in the prices of cotton as compare to last Kharif Season 2006-07 prices and recommend the Cotton price @ Rs.2786/- per quintal for H4 quality cotton and Rs.2478/- per quintal for F414 quality cotton to save the farmers of the Vidarbha Region.
Hence, prayed accordingly.
Thanking you,
Yours faithfully,
For VIDARBHA JANANDOLAN SAMITI
KISHORE TIWARI
PRESIDENT.
Copy to : 1) Dr. Shri Manmohan Singh
Hon’ble Prime Minister of India.
New Delhi.
2) Shri Sharad Pawar,
Hon’ble Union Minister for Agriculture,
Govt. of India, New Delhi.
CC to : His Highness Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam,
Hon’ble President of India, New Delhi.
