Centre willing to procure jute, cotton crop if prices fall below MSP: Goyal

The government is willing to procure the harvest of jute and cotton from farmers if the market price is lower than the Minimum Support Price (MSP), Union Minister Piyush Goyal said on Wednesday.The minister further said that the Centre is working towards increasing the production of jute and cotton and is willing to provide quality seeds and fertilisers for quality produce to fulfil the vision of farm to foreign exports.The Union Minister for Textiles, Consumer Affairs & Food & Public Distribution and Commerce & Industry made the remarks during his interaction with beneficiaries of the Textile Sector here as he also urged them to be vocal for local.
“Be vocal for local and take local to global. That’s the clarion call from Prime Minister Narendra Modi to showcase our products on the world stage”, Goyal said.The minister further noted that ramping up textile production in the country will spur income, open up employment opportunities and play a vital role in making the country ‘Atmanirbhar’ as well.He urged the artisans to register their businesses on the Government e-Marketplace (GeM). Goyal also said he has instructed GeM to register all artisans and weavers connected with handicraft and handloom without any registration fee.“Registering on the e-marketplace will boost the visibility of artisans and help promote businesses enhancing their income,” said Goyal.
The minister noted that the support of the officials to the handicraft and handloom businesses, especially small enterprises, would help them create an identity through their craft on the GeM website, the Textiles Ministry stated.With a special emphasis on promoting the ‘Made in India’ initiative, Goyal urged the officials to devise ways for the handicraft beneficiaries to gain from the ‘Handmade in India’ label and register greater income on their products.