Chandigarh, September 24:
Raising voice of the distress of the state’s cotton farmers, Punjab Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister, S. Gurmeet Singh Khudian sought the Centre Government’s immediate intervention to commence the cotton crop’s procurement by the Cotton Corporation of India’s (CCI) in the state at Minimum Support Price (MSP) of Rs. 7,710 per quintal as announced by GoI. The CCI’s absence from state mandis, despite the “white gold’s” arrival, has left the farmers vulnerable to distress sales to private players at prices below the MSP.
While addressing a press conference here at Punjab Bhawan, on Wednesday evening, S. Gurmeet Singh Khudian painted a grim picture of broken promises for the state’s cotton growers. Despite a 20% increase in area under cotton cultivation, due to the Punjab Government’s proactive initiatives under crop diversification drive, farmers are now facing despair due to the CCI’s conspicuous absence.
Expressing deep concern over the Centre’s failure to fulfil its promise of MSP for cotton farmers, the Agriculture Minister questioned that the crop is here. The farmers are here. But where is the CCI?
Highlighting the state’s efforts to boost cotton cultivation, he informed that Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann-led Punjab Government’s 33% subsidy on hybrid cotton seeds and other proactive measures resulted in a significant 20% increase in cotton cultivation, from around 99000 hectares in 2024 to 1.19 lakh hectares this year. S. khudian emphasised that farmers, who invested their savings and labour based on the MSP announced by Centre Government, are now being forced into distress sales to meet urgent financial needs.
“We did our part. Our farmers did their part with unparalleled faith. Now, the Centre must do its part. We demand the CCI should immediately commence procurement without any further delay. Every quintal sold below MSP is undermine farmers’ faith in the Centre’s system. The time for action is now”, stated S. Khudian.
