Statement of AIKMKS:
The Central Government’ s Policy of Capitulation to Imperialism – Exemption of Import Duties on Crops Like Cotton Plunged Farmers into Deep Distress
The import-duty waiver announced by the central government on August 23, 2025, has had a severe impact on the farming community, particularly cotton farmers. The Centre initially announced that the 11 % duty imposed on cotton imports would be removed until September 31. But later extended it up to December 31 st bowing to pressure from investors and corporate owners.
The four-month period covered by this decision is precisely when cotton yield is harvested in the major cotton-growing regions. The policy created an opportunity for mill owners to import large quantities of low-priced cotton from abroad— mainly from Brazil and the United States. As a result, mill owners drastically reduced cotton purchases both in the open market and through the Cotton Corporation of India( CCI). This has severely affected farmers in major cotton-growing districts such as Adilabad, Nizamabad, Warangal, Medak in Telangana; Yadgir, Raichur, Bidar, Ballari in Karnataka; and Kurnool, Anantapur, Guntur, Prakasam in Andhra Pradesh.
As part of new economic and industrial policies and globalization, the exploitation of the farming community has been steadily increasing. This is clearly the result
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This protest also highlighted the indirect influence that worked covertly to undermine the sentiments of the people of Punjab, which had not been fully visible until then. The Punjab student movement, along with the farmers’ struggle, was able to resist attempts by the central BJP government, which is pushing for privatization and saffronization of December-2025 of the pro-imperialist policies being implemented by governments. Various types of BT seeds have already taken over cotton cultivation. Indian ruling class has been cooperating with imperialist attempts that aim to bankrupt our agricultural sector. By making agriculture unprofitable for Indian farmers, the ruling classes are trying to gradually displace farmers away from their land and hand over those lands to corporates.
While, under Trump’ s leadership, American imperialists imposed heavy tariffs on goods coming from our country into theirs, our Indian government— which is subservient to imperialism— removed taxes on goods coming from those countries. In doing so, they have once again proved their comprador character by virtually prostrating before foreign powers. This stands as an open example of how the interests of Indian farmers are being mortgaged to imperialist forces. The BJP – RSS forces, which constantly provoke emotions about patriotism and national interests, have once again revealed what their nationalism truly means and exposed the real nature of their policies.
Cotton purchases in India are carried out through the Cotton Corporation of India( CCI). It is an
universities. The protest in Punjab can serve as an inspiration to other student movements across the country.
Any successful movement including these protests, have shown that when they are backed by people’ s support and carried out through democratic means, they can challenge authoritarian policies of any ruling government. � indisputable fact that CCI has turned into an agent since a long time. It continually revises its policies to guarantee steady profits to yarn mill owners. In matters of cotton procurement, CCI has shifted the primary responsibility onto ginning mills. In places like Adoni, Yadgir, and Adilabad, CCI officials, traders, and brokers have become accustomed to dividing among themselves the surplus generated from the net cotton yield after ginning.
The Minimum Support Price( MSP) announced by the central government for cotton is Rs. 8,110 per quintal. However, since foreign cotton is available at cheaper rates, this policy is bringing profits to yarn and textile mill owners while pushing cotton farmers into bankruptcy. If government’ s anti-farmer policies are one reason for this, CCI’ s practices— such as imposing various objections regarding quality and moisture content— also cause significant losses to farmers.
This year, CCI introduced new regulations by categorizing ginning mills into L-1 and L-2 groups and allocating cotton accordingly, and by mandating registration in the“ Compass Kisan App.” These rules have caused serious problems for both ginning mill owners and farmers. New procedures requiring farmers to register their crops via smartphones and to book slots in advance for selling their produce have severely harmed them. Many farmers do not possess smartphones, and even when they do, they often do not know how to complete these processes— forcing them to rely on private brokers.
Last year, CCI purchased 12 quintals of cotton per acre, but this
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