Mah govt to purchase cotton not meeting CCI norms also: CM

Mumbai, Mar 2 (UNI) The Maharashtra government, while purchasing the regular cotton under its Cotton Monopoly Procurement Scheme, will also accept the produce from the farmers which is not of the standard as specified by the Cotton Corporation of India (CCI), Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh today said.

This would provide succour to the farming community, Mr Deshmukh told reportes after a weekly cabinet meeting.

The Chief Minister said that the value of such variety of cotton, which is not up to the standards of CCI, will be decided depending on its quality.

Besides this, the government would also purchase 'Kavadi' cotton at Rs 735 per quintal, he added.

He admitted that purchase under the scheme this year has been less.

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