Cotton Farmers Deeply Worried in Gujarat Due to Crop Damage and Weak Prices

08-Dec-2025 04:22 PM

Rajkot. Farmers in Gujarat—the country’s largest cotton-producing state—are extremely worried and distressed because heavy torrential rains in October caused severe damage to cotton crops, and the low wholesale market prices are not even covering their cost of production. It is understood that, burdened by debt and distress, six cotton farmers in Gujarat have committed suicide this year. Farmers are urgently demanding strong government intervention to provide them with some relief.

In the markets of Rajkot and nearby areas, cotton prices have fallen to ₹6,000–6,500 per quintal, which is far below the Minimum Support Price (MSP) of ₹7,710 per quintal and ₹8,110 per quintal. Moreover, in the last week of October, extremely heavy rainfall occurred just when harvesting was about to begin.

After conducting an aerial survey of flood-affected and waterlogged areas, the Chief Minister of Gujarat had announced a relief package of nearly ₹10,000 crore for farmers, stating that from 9 November, procurement of groundnut, soybean, moong, and urad worth over ₹15,000 crore would be undertaken at MSP. However, most affected farmers complain that they have not yet received any relief assistance or compensation. Farmers had expected a good output of cotton, pulses, and groundnut this year, but this expectation could not be fulfilled.

According to farmers’ organizations, six farmers have committed suicide since the extremely heavy rains on 25 October, all of whom were cotton farmers, but the state government has not paid attention to this matter. Meanwhile, government procurement of kharif crops has begun in Gujarat. However, duty-free imports of cotton are worsening the situation further.