Texmin Directed CCI To Procure Cotton In Punjab

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Texmin Directed CCI To Procure Cotton In Punjab

To address the mammoth losses suffered by the cotton growers in Punjab due to whitefly attack on their crop, Union Textile Ministry has directed the state owned Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) to immediately begin procurement of cotton in the state at Minimum Support Price (MSP). The crop damage has sparked an outrage and suicide which snowballed to statewide protest against the state government. Union Textiles Minister Santosh Kumar Gangwar gave directions to the Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) in this regard after Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal met him in New Delhi on 10th October. Gangwar directed CCI Chairman-& MD BK Mishra to rush to Chandigarh on Monday and work out the modalities for the procurement of cotton in Punjab. As for relaxation in cotton procurement norms in the wake of extensive damage to cotton crop due to the recent pest attack in Malwa region of Punjab, the minister asked Badal to send a comprehensive proposal to his ministry as well. Growers in Punjab are up in arms after nearly 40 percent cotton crop in the state was destroyed by whitefly pest this year.