Punjab Agriculture Minister Urges CCI to Begin MSP Cotton Buying After Prices Fall Below Support
Farmers report Rs 5,600–5,800 per quintal against the Rs 7,710 MSP, prompting urgent calls to prevent distress sales.
Overview
- Gurmeet Singh Khudian said the Cotton Corporation of India is conspicuously absent from Punjab mandis despite fresh cotton arrivals.
- He urged the Centre to direct the CCI to start immediate procurement at the notified minimum support price.
- Arrivals are fetching below-MSP prices that the minister described as a “loot” of cotton growers.
- Punjab reports a roughly 20% increase in cotton acreage to 1.19 lakh hectares from 99,000 hectares last year under its diversification push.
- The state cited a 33% subsidy on hybrid cotton seeds and other measures that encouraged planting by farmers now facing below-MSP deals.