CCI centers to double, PM to take final decision on Cotton MSP

New Delhi, December 9 2014

Gujarat’s senior most minister Nitin Patel and Agriculture Minister Nitin Patel were today on Delhi visit to make representation before the central government for better minimum support price of cotton, more export of cotton and more centres for purchase of cotton on minimum support price(MSP).

Minister Nitin Patel after meeting the Principal Secretary in Prime Minister’s office Shri Nripen Mishra said, “Our meeting went on for around two hours. We demanded increase in number of CCI centers for purchase of cotton on minimum support price(MSP). At present there are 60 centers in Gujarat, and the Government of India has agreed to double the number of CCI centers to 120.”

“We had taken appointment, and accordingly we arrived here today and our meting was held at South Block with Prime Minister’s Principal Secretary Nripen Mishra, other senior officers and secretaries of various departments. We demanded large-scale export of cotton so that farmers may get better prices. While Government of Gujarat has made some suggestions to centre, the Government of India too has sought several details and made some suggestions in this regard,” he further said.

Patel said the Government of Gujarat has suggested some actions and some policy inputs.

He said the Prime Minister was outside Delhi, and once he returns, he will hold a meeting with senior officers tonight. He said he would discuss the details of his Delhi visit with Gujarat Chief Minister on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, the other minister Babubhai Bokhiria said that the existing MSP was finalized by previous government in centre. He said the BJP had demanded MSP of Rs. 1,000 when Congress-led UPA was in power, however the UPA government fixed MSP at Rs. 800.

Mohanbhai in Lok Sabha

In another development, Minister of state for Agriculture in centre, Mohanbhai Kundaria in Lok Sabha took part in discussion on Cotton prices. Presented below are highlights of his statements:

-Purchase of cotton by CCI has bee started for last twenty days. So far 95,04,023 bales cotton has been purchased.

-It is wrong that in Maharashtra we purchase only 25 quintal maximum from one farmer. In Maharashtra’s Akola area, 1,21,613 bales cotton has been purchased. In Aurangabad 1,37,081 bales have been purchased. It means 2,58,694 bales are purchased only in Maharashtra.

-China is number one cotton producer with 6.84 million cubic tonne. India is on second number with 5.82 million cubic tonne.

-Present minimum support price is Rs. 4,50/quintal. We are considering how to give better price to farmers.

-The prices of cotton in most cotton producing States have declined during the current season, that is, 2014-15 mainly on account of worldwide cotton glut resulting in lower exports