BJP to launch state-wide agitation for cotton growers

Munde claimed that though Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh has declared a revision in the price of cotton, bringing it up to Rs 2,300 per quintal, cotton growers had not benefitted from it as the new government had revised the categories of cotton.

“During the Sena-BJP rule, there were only two categories, while the new government has recognised five grades. The category for which Rs 2,300 is paid, is less than one per cent of the total cotton production in the entire state and as such, very few farmers can benefit from the hike in prices. By and large, the cottongrowers in the state will only get between Rs 1,500 to Rs 1,600 per quintal,” he pointed out.

The Democratic Front government was also giving a raw deal to milk producers, Munde said. “When we were in power, we accepted milk from individuals as well as co-operative societies for the entire year. However, the DF government rejects milk at least once a week. This has resulted in a huge loss for the milk producers,” Munde said.

Munde, who recently visited the onion producing areas of Nasik and the neighbouring areas, said he would personally take up their problem with the Centre.