In a letter sent to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chief Minister M. K. Stalin discussed cotton procurement and the Kharif MSP for cotton. During the current harvest season in Tamil Nadu, cotton prices have drastically decreased.
Stalin stated in a letter dated July 7, 2023 that a quintal cost 12,000 last year, but that it is now only 5,500. Farmers of cotton found the previous year to be quite profitable as they were able to sell cotton for 12,000/- per quintal. This gave farmers encouragement, and a lot of them decided to grow cotton this year. “However, these farmers now find themselves in a difficult situation due to steep decline in prices, which have plummeted to 5,500/- per quintal,” he stated.
The MSP for medium- and long-staple cotton was recently set by the Indian government at 6,620 and 7,020 rupees per quintal, respectively, an increase of 540 and 640 rupees per quintal over the previous year.
He was asked by the chief minister to tell the Cotton Corporation of India to start buying cotton in Tamil Nadu.
