Cotton farmers in Maharashtra want better technology and more funding to address falling productivity.
Finance Minister allocated ₹500 crore for the National Cotton Technology Mission in the 2025-26 Union Budget, but farmers feel it's insufficient.
Cotton yields have dropped from 502 kg per hectare in 2014-15 to 461 kg in 2024-25, with production falling short of the textile sector's demand.
The Bollgard-2 cotton variety, used for two decades, is less effective now, and bollworms still damage the crop.
Some farmers use high-density planting and mechanized cotton-picking for higher yields, but these methods are expensive and not accessible to all.
These farmers argue the ₹500 crore allocated is too little, suggesting at least double the amount is needed.
Farmers criticized the budget, highlighting the need for better prices, reduced input costs, and more focus on agriculture in bank lending.
Most farmers can't access the Minimum Support Price (MSP) due to lack of government procurement and called for better support prices as recommended by the M.S. Swaminathan Commission.
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