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Title : Problems being faced by cotton growers in Andhra Pradesh and other parts of the country.
SHRI SURAVARAM SUDHAKAR REDDY : Sir, while I agree with the problem posed by Shri Sambasiva Rao on the question of the crisis of cotton, I have some different types of solutions.
MR. DEPUTY-SPEAKER: You are given only one minute. Though you are raising different types of issues, I can give you only one minute.
SHRI SURAVARAM SUDHAKAR REDDY : Yes, Sir, I will be taking only one-and-a-half minutes.
The Cotton peasants in Andhra Pradesh are in deep crisis as M/s. Cotton Corporation of India has stopped purchasing cotton for the last two weeks. It is estimated that about 18 to 20 lakh bales of cotton are lying unsold with the peasants. Last month the price of the cotton was Rs. 2,500/- and now it fell down to Rs. 1,300/-. The refusal of M/s. Cotton Corporation of India to purchase the cotton has been taken advantage of by private businessmen who are purchasing cotton at the rock bottom price. The so-called BT cottonseed has resulted in the production of lower grade cotton which can be neither exported nor sold internally.
It is said that more than 4.5 million bales of cotton are in excess stock in the country from the last year crop. This year another five million bales are supposed to be in excess than the internal demand in the country. Cotton crisis is so serious that more than three hundred persons have committed suicide in Vidharbha region of Maharashtra. There are suicides by peasants in Andhra Pradesh and other States also. So, it is high time that the Government should take serious note of this issue and draw a comprehensive plan to solve the problem of the cotton peasants. I suggest that M/s. Cotton Corporation of India should enter the market and purchase the cotton by giving peasants not less than Rs. 2,000/- per bale.
They should explore the possibility of export of cotton. They should restrain or ban the low-grade cottonseed in the country and supply high-grade cottonseed to peasants in long-term. They should ban the cotton import from outside. They should also subsidise to M/s. National Textile Corporation Mills and Cooperative Spinning Mills for purchase of local cotton. I believe this will help to reduce the serious crisis in cotton.
Lastly, NAFED should open purchasing centres at Warrangal, Guntur and Bhadrachalam to purchase chillies.
उपाध्यक्ष महोदय : गिरधारी लाल भार्गव जी, आप अपनी बात सिर्फ एक मिनट में समाप्त करें।