Chennai, 21 August (H.S.) : Cotton farmers in Tamil Nadu are facing a severe crisis as prices of the crop have plummeted in recent weeks, leaving them with significant losses. To alleviate their plight, farmers are now demanding a production subsidy from the state government to compensate for the sharp decline in prices.

The demand has been raised by various farmer unions and organizations, who point out that the cost of cultivation has increased manifold, while the prices of cotton have fallen drastically. This has resulted in huge losses for farmers, who are struggling to make ends meet.

According to reports, cotton prices in Tamil Nadu have fallen to historic lows, with some varieties selling for as low as ₹4,000 per quintal. This is far below the cost of production, which is estimated to be around ₹6,000 per quintal. The situation is grim, and farmers are finding it difficult to sustain themselves.

The farmer unions are urging the state government to provide a production subsidy of at least ₹2,000 per quintal to cotton farmers to help them tide over the crisis. They are also demanding that the government intervene to stabilize prices and ensure fair prices for farmers.

The issue has become a pressing concern for the state government, which is being pressed to take immediate action to alleviate the suffering of cotton farmers. The government is likely to take a decision on the demand for a production subsidy soon, which will provide much-needed relief to the beleaguered farmers.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Dr. R. B. Chaudhary