In order to protect farmers from falling cotton prices, the government will step up procurement at support rate by opening more centres, particularly in major producing states Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Maharashtra and Gujarat. A decision in this regard was taken at a high-level meeting called by Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh in New Delhi today. Textile Minister Santosh Gangwar, Commerce Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Labour Minister Bandaru Dattatreya attended the meeting. Briefing the media after the meeting, Mr Gangwar said, Cotton Corporation of India, CCI has been asked to step up its procurement operation by opening more centers wherever prices have fallen below the minimum support price.