Chandigarh, Sept. 25 -- With the cotton crop being sold "below" the minimum support price (MSP) in the state, Punjab agriculture minister Gurmeet Singh Khudian on Wednesday sought the intervention of the Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) to intervene in the market to ensure farmers get the right price for their crop.

Addressing the media here, Khudian said against the MSP of Rs.7,710 per quintal, farmers are receiving in the range of Rs.5,600-5,800 a quintal in mandis.

The minister said despite a 20% increase in area under cotton cultivation due to the Punjab government's initiatives under the crop diversification drive, farmers are now facing despair due to the CCI's conspicuous absence.

Expressing concern over the Centre's "failure" ...