Cotton farmers protest Piyush Goyal’s remarks on U.S. imports, warn of price crash

Cotton farmers protest against Piyush Goyal’s remarks on U.S. imports, fearing price crashes and devastation to domestic agriculture.

Groups of cotton farmers across the country have protested Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal’s recent statement that if India purchases raw cotton from the United States, processes it domestically, makes cloth, and exports the finished products back to the U.S., then the country can also avail a zero reciprocal tariff—similar to a facility reportedly extended to Bangladesh. Farmers’ organisations argued that by taking such a stand, the Centre ignored the interests of domestic cotton cultivators.

Mr. Goyal had said that the Opposition was misleading the public by claiming Bangladesh had secured greater benefits. “Just as Bangladesh has a facility that if raw material is purchased from America, processed into cloth and exported, it will be available at zero reciprocal tariff, India also has the same facility and will get it,” he said. 

Several farmer bodies, particularly those working among cotton farmers, have decided to launch protests. Gurbhej Singh Rohiwala, a district leader of Bharatiya Kisan (Union) (Ekta-Ugrahan) in Fazilka, Punjab, said the district was once known as the “Manchester of Punjab” for its high-quality cotton.

“Five blocks in this district were known for cotton production. We even had a separate market for cotton procurement. In the last decade, production declined primarily due to poor prices. Now we know the real reason for this neglect. If the government wants to import cotton from the U.S., what is its plan for cotton farmers in Punjab and other States?” asked Mr. Rohiwala. 

Palbhai Ambalia, a farmers’ leader from Gujarat, echoed similar concerns. “How can a farmer accept such statements? Mr. Goyal’s state of mind is anti-farmer. He is working for big textile companies. What should cotton farmers do if India allows cheap U.S. cotton to be dumped here?, Mr. Ambalia asked. 

The Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM), reiterating its demand for Mr. Goyal’s resignation, said, “The statement revealed the naked truth that the Narendra Modi Government surrendered the self-reliance and sovereignty of India to the U.S. The declaration proves that the claim that ‘agriculture is out of the U.S. trade deal’ is false and is meant to mislead people, and substantiates the fact that FTAs signed by the Modi Government are the blueprint of economic colonisation of India. The BJP plans to make India a dumping yard of U.S. products and a loot market for MNCs,” the SKM said.