Farmer suicide in vidarbha reported on the eve of Union Agri. Minister Sharad Pawar and Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashik Chavan to akola

Farmer suicide in vidarbha reported on the eve of Union Agri. Minister Sharad Pawar and Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashik Chavan to akola

Nagpur -18^TH September 2010

Indian Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar who is visiting Akola along with Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan after heavy rain almost spoiled the complete cotton crop in more than 3 million hector resulting huge economic losses to tune of more than Rs.4000 crore ,has to receive the sad news of young farmers of Akola district Khushal Ganornor suicide in the village Nakoshi as the Despondency, despair and accumulated actuate deep distress trigger as epidemic of farm suicides that has been seen claimed more than 583 farmers suicides in year 2010 .

Recent victims of vidarbha agrarian crisis are in last two days are

1.KHUSHAL GANORKAR of NIKOSHI in AKOLA

2. UMESH BAND of CHILKA in AKOLA

3. VASUDEO MESHRAM of VILLAGE ARJUNI in BHANDARA

Kishor Tiwari of Vidarbha Janandolan Samiti(VJAS )informed in press release today

‘The toll claim of union agriculture that there will be bumper crop in this khariff season 2010-11 is a hoax as most of part of cotton growing area not only in Indian but south east Asia has been damaged and as per report reaching here due to very heavy rain and Bt. Cotton failure causing as result of excessive water logging resulting ‘root rot disease’ which has spoiled Bt. Cotton crop in record 110 lakhs hectors in India .this is problem of Sharad Pawar who is not knowing the factual position of Indian agrarian crisis as he is very busy to attend ICC ,Lavasa and his NCP north America Inc. and on going twenty-20 matches ’Tiwari added.

This is clear cut sign of severe agrarian crisis in the region because of the fact that for kharif season 2010-11 area under cultivation of Bt.cotton is above 110 lakhs and record rain and massive floods in cotton cultivating areas has damaged most of standing Bt.cotton crop and excessive rain has jumped the cultivation cost to double, but expected yield is likely to reduce to 50% resulting more than Rs.27,000 crore huge financial losses to Indian cotton growers, hence our demand to raise cotton MSP of Rs.4500/- per quintal to compensate farmers accumulated losses ,it need of the hour , Kishor Tiwari of VJAS added.

In a letter to Indian Prime Minister, Dr.Manmohan Singh , VJAS has given details of sky rocking cultivation cost which is exposing the truth of the agrarian crisis in the cotton growing area of India, here is the table:

Hence total cultivation expenses in dry land rain fed area for Bt.cotton is more than Rs.25,000 per hector , even the yield matches the toll claim of US MNC’s Monsanto then even too farmers breakeven cost at home is more than Rs.4,000/- per quintal hence due massive flood in china and Pakistan the Indian cotton demand will be higher hence higher MSP will protect the cotton farmer from blood sucking trader community area hence we demand higher MSP for cotton that’s minimum Rs.4,500/- per quintal ,Tiwari urged the CACP.

Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee scheme MGREGA (NREGA) has not provided more than more than 20 maydays wages in rural sector of cotton belt of India as per official report but cotton growers has given more than 100 days continuous work 100% labors in all villages and near by urban area too, hence VJAS has asked central Govt. direct Rs.5000/- ‘Labor Wage Subsidy’ under MGREGA (NREGA) fund to agrarian crisis bound region, Tiwari said.

Demand to Raise Cotton MSP of Rs.4500/- Per Quintal

Vidarbha Janandolan Samiti (VJAS) advocacy group representing more than 3 million Maharashtra cotton farmers has strongly objected the plea of The Maharashtra State Co-operative Cotton Growers Marketing Federation Limited (MAHACOT) to central Govt. to raise cotton MSP from Rs.3000/- to Rs 3500/- per quintal when market prices at spot and future are trading above Rs.4000/- per quintal, Kishor Tiwari of VJAS informed in press release today.

“Since last four months cotton bales rate is above Rs.35000/- and cotton seed is being sold above Rs.1500/- per quintal and future trading till December in national and international commodity exchanges are showing bullish trend and massive cotton crop losses in India ,China, Pakistan and USA and west vidarbha. cotton growers has urged Indian Govt. to ask CACP to raise cotton MSP of Rs.4500/- per quintal to compensate farmers accumulated losses but day before yesterday Dr.N.P.Hirani, Chairman Maharashtra State Co-operative Cotton Growers Marketing Federation Limited (MAHACOT) has officially asked Govt. of India to raise MSP from Rs.3000/- to Rs 3500/- per quintal ,this is ridiculous and in collaboration with cotton traders and exporters along with textile miller owners mafia to drop down the prevailing cotton prices in national market hence our demand to raise cotton MSP of Rs.4500/- per quintal to compensate farmers accumulated losses is justified ,Tiwari said .===============================================================