Cotton advocacy lobby opposes FDI in multi-brand retail

They aver that in allowing 51 percent majority stake in multi-brand retail, these multi-national companies (MNC) will eventually gain control over the Indian agrarian economy.

Speaking exclusively to fibre2fashion – Kishore Tiwari – leader of Vidarbha Jan Andolan Samiti (VJAS) says, “The cotton economy of the state has been ruined by giving virtual control to a MNC producer of Bt cotton seeds.”

He adds, “This has led to a very large number of cotton farmers committing suicides in the last few years, which is the main reason, we have opposed cultivation of Bt seeds. The Maharashtra government too has banned the same from this year”.

Explaining the reason for opposing FDI in multi-brand retail, he informs, “In the same way as MNC’s took over the agrarian economy by controlling all farm inputs, we expect the same to repeat, if foreign retailers are given a free hand”.

“We want a national debate over the development model of giving control of the rural economy to a few MNC’s, which has led to mounting debts and in turn suicides by these farmers”, he wound up by saying. 

Kishore Tiwari who has several education degrees in his kitty, is espousing the cause of the cotton farmers since several years in the Vidarbha region, also called the cotton bowl of Maharashtra. 

Fibre2fashion News Desk - India