Question : MINIMUM SUPPORT PRICE OF COTTON

(a) whether the government of Maharashtra and other cotton growing States have approached the Union Government, for seeking assistance for defraying the loss suffered and likely to be suffered this year in procurement of the cotton at the minimum support price under the monopoly procurement system for cotton;

(b) if so, the details thereof including action taken in this regard;

(c) the quantum of cotton procured and to be procured this year; and

(d) the minimum support price fixed and the Government’s response thereto?

MINISTER OF TEXTILES( SHRI SHANKERSINH VAGHELA )

(a) No Sir.

(b) Does not arise.

(c) Under the Minimum Support Price (MSP) operations, the Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) procures kapas (seed cotton) without any quantitative restrictions. During the current cotton year (October, 2004 – September, 2005), till 26.04.2005, the CCI has procured 27.01 lakh bales under support price operations and 0.44 lakh bales under commercial operations.

(d) For the current cotton year 2004-05, the MSP of kapas of Fair Average Quality have been fixed at Rs. 1760/- per quintal for medium staple variety (F-414/J-34/H-777) and Rs. 1960/- per quintal for long staple variety (H-4).