The textile industry is not heading towards sickness due to ups and downs in the prices of cotton in the domestic market. The prices of lint cotton during the current season have been 13% to 30% lower than the prices of cotton from corresponding period in last year, thereby affecting the farmers.

Government has fixed the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for cotton for the current cotton year 2014-15. The Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) purchases cotton from the farmers only under the MSP operations.  The details of cotton procured by CCI from the farmers during the last three years and the current year are given below:-

 Qty. in bales of 170kg each

      *As on 14^th December, 2014

The Government has taken various steps to safeguard the interests of farmers and                          to stabilize the prices of cotton in the market which includes fixation of Minimum Support Price, issued directives to CCI for undertaking necessary action for MSP Operations, giving particular attention to specific areas which include giving wide publicity of MSP of cotton fixed and details of procurement centres opened by CCI for MSP operations, opening of additional purchase centres as per requirement, constant monitoring of the operations in each centre on a daily basis by the CCI. Also, State Agencies, the District Magistrate and other State Government Officials,                       public representatives of the Panchayti Raj bodies and Hon’ble Members of Parliament have been requested to provide active support for the smooth carrying of the MSP operations.

This information was given by the Minister of State (Independent Charge) in the Ministry of Textiles Shri Santosh Kumar Gangwar in a written reply in Lok Sabha today.

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RC