<div><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Gujarat Agriculture Minister Raghavji Patel on Tuesday held a detailed meeting with officials of the Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) in Gandhinagar.&nbsp;</span></div>
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<div><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">The minister urged the central agency to expand its procurement network under the Minimum Support Price (MSP) scheme to protect farmers from declining market prices.</span></div>
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<div><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">The meeting reviewed preparations for cotton procurement at the government-declared MSP of Rs 8,060 per quintal (Rs 1,612 per maund). The current market price is reportedly Rs 800 to Rs 1,000 lower than the MSP, prompting fears that a large number of farmers will depend on government procurement to recover their costs.</span></div>
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<div><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Patel emphasised that due to favourable monsoon conditions this year, cotton acreage and production in Gujarat are expected to be high. He asked the CCI to ensure that no farmer faces difficulty in selling their produce at MSP rates. &ldquo;Every taluka should have at least two purchase centres so that farmers do not have to travel long distances,&rdquo; Patel directed.</span></div>
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<div><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">The minister also suggested that the ongoing registration process for MSP sales, currently open until October 31, be extended if necessary to accommodate more farmers. He recommended that the CCI consider purchases from unregistered farmers after seeking special permission, to ensure inclusivity.</span></div>
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<div><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Patel instructed that procurement be carried out directly at APMC markets and designated centres while adhering to quality standards. The meeting was attended by Members of Parliament, legislators, and Indian Kisan Sangh General Secretary R K Patel.</span></div>
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<div><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Calling the initiative a farmer-centric move, Patel appealed to all cotton cultivators in Gujarat to register for MSP sales, reiterating the state government&rsquo;s commitment to guaranteeing fair prices and protecting farmers from market fluctuations.</span></div>

Minister urges wider procurement at Rs 8,060 MSP to aid cotton farmers

Raghavji Patel Meets CCI over Cotton MSP in Gujara

Minister urges wider procurement at Rs 8,060 MSP to aid cotton farmers

October 8, 2025 | 16:12 IST