(a) whether the Government proposes to create buffer stock of cotton for exclusive use by a certain sectors;
(b) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;
(c) the total investment required for creating the buffer stock system;
(d) whether the Cotton Corporation of India has opened around 120 purchase centres across the country even as it has no plans at the moment to procure the fibre; and
(e) if so, the details thereof?
MINISTER OF TEXTILES
(SMT. SMRITI ZUBIN IRANI)
(a): No, Madam.
(b) & (c): Does not arise, in view of (a) above.
(d) & (e): Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) has been nominated by the Government of India to undertake Minimum Support Price (MSP) operation in the event when prices of seed cotton (kapas) touches MSP level to procure entire quantity of Fair Average Quality (FAQ) grade kapas offered by the cotton farmers in various Agricultural Produce Marketing Committee (APMC) market yards at MSP rates. CCI has opened 347 procurement centres in 120 districts across the Country to cover maximum cotton arrivals and is active in the market from day one of the cotton season to meet any eventuality to undertake MSP operation. With a view to enable the cotton farmers to avail the full benefit of MSP, CCI has disseminated necessary information through advertisements in newspapers and displaying banners in APMCs in order to avoid distress sale of cotton, if any by farmers.
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