Mon Aug 25 17:52:43 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary and news article based on the provided text:
**Summary:**
The Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) has criticized the Indian government’s decision to scrap import duties on cotton. They argue that this will harm Indian cotton farmers who cannot compete with heavily subsidized American cotton producers. The SKM fears the decision will depress domestic cotton prices, increase farmer indebtedness, and worsen the already existing agrarian distress in cotton-growing regions, potentially leading to more farmer suicides.
**News Article:**
**Indian Farmers’ Group Decries Scrapping of Cotton Import Duty, Citing U.S. Subsidy Disparity**
*New Delhi, August 25, 2025* – The Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM), a leading farmers’ organization, has strongly condemned the Indian government’s recent decision to eliminate import duties on cotton. In a press conference held today, SKM leaders warned that the move would severely impact Indian cotton farmers, pushing them further into debt and exacerbating existing agrarian crises.
The SKM argues that Indian farmers are unable to compete with their American counterparts due to the significant subsidies provided by the U.S. government. “It has been estimated that, in the U.S., government subsidies are as high as 12% of the total value of production of cotton while in India, government support to cotton farmers is about 2.37% of the value of production,” stated an SKM spokesperson. “This massive disparity is at the core of the advantage U.S. cotton farmers have over cotton producers in developing countries.”
The timing of the decision is particularly troubling, according to the SKM, as farmers have already invested heavily in their crops and are preparing for the harvest. The group fears that the removal of import duties will drive down domestic cotton prices, leaving farmers with little to no profit.
“Cotton-growing regions of India are notorious for agrarian distress and death by suicides by farmers,” SKM leaders emphasized. They expressed concerns that the new policy will further impoverish cotton farmers, leading to increased indebtedness and tragically, more suicides. The SKM is calling on the government to reconsider its decision and implement measures to protect the interests of Indian cotton farmers.
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