Farmers in Maharashtra are expressing their inability to sell cotton due to the downward spiral of prices.

Farmers from Babhulgaon in Yavatmal, Maharashtra, have said that they have been unable to sell cotton since last year due to declining prices.

Farmers in Babhulgaon, Maharashtra, are facing a dire situation as they struggle to sell their cotton harvest due to plummeting prices. Hindered by last year's poor returns and the impending loan repayment deadlines, they are caught between the choice of selling at a loss or holding onto their crops. This dilemma is aggravated by the irregular rainfall, which has led to a decline in cotton production this year.

Prakash Madhukar Gawande, a cotton farmer from Naygaon village, detailed the financial strain, explaining that despite investing heavily in his cotton farm, the current market rates would result in significant losses. He emphasized the discrepancy between the actual selling price and the ideal price needed to cover expenses and generate profit.

Gawande lamented the inadequacy of government schemes to compensate for their losses, expressing the risks involved in storing the harvest while hoping for better prices. He highlighted the significant cotton cultivation in Yavatmal district and underscored the distressing prevalence of farmer suicides in the region.

Amol Kapse, the director of the Agricultural Produce Market Committee in Babhulgaon, pointed out the absence of support from the Cotton Corporation of India in the taluk, leaving farmers at the mercy of private buyers offering lower rates. He emphasized the urgent need for government intervention to alleviate the financial strain on farmers and prevent further tragedies.