Maharashtra Cooperation, Marketing and Textiles Minister Subhash Deshmukh has directed the Agriculture Produce Market Committees to commence online registration of farmers for the purchase of cotton from October 18 for the 2017-18 season. Cotton prices, however, are yet to reach minimum support price (MSP) levels. He cautioned farmers against distress sales.
The Maharashtra State Marketing Federation (MSMF) will set up cotton procurement centres under the Cotton Corporation of India (CCI), a report in a top financial daily quoted Deshmukh as saying. The federation will open 60 centres and CCI may also open another 60 centres.
Cotton MSP has been raised by Rs 160 per quintal to Rs 4,020 per quintal for medium staple cotton and Rs 4,320 per quintal for long staple cotton. CCI and the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Limited (NAFED) are the two agencies appointed by the government to extend the necessary marketing support to cotton growers in selling their produce at the most competitive prices.