No central agency for cotton farmers

New Delhi, Mar 14 (UNI) The Government today said it had been unable to accede to the Maharashtra Government's demand to appoint a Maharashtra State Cooperative Cotton Growers Marketing Federation Ltd as a central agency or an agent of NAFED for cotton procurement and provide subsidy to it.

Minister of State for Agriculture Kanti Lal Bhuria told the Rajya Sabha during question hour that the Ministry had reviewed the state government's request and could not accede to it.

Replying to another question on whether the Orissa Chief Minister had asked the Prime Minister to raise the MSP of paddy for 2007-08 on a par with the MSP for wheat at Rs 1,000 a quintal, Mr Bhuria said in a written reply that the MSP for paddy for the 2007-08 season has been fixed at Rs 645 a quintal for common grade paddy and Rs 675 a quintal for Grade A variety.

An additional bonus of Rs 100 a quitla was also being given, he added.

UNI SD RL HT1428