In the wake of falling domestic prices, the government has said it will procure nine million bales of cotton this year to protect the interests of growers.

Commerce and Textiles Minister Anand Sharma and Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar discussed about early commencement of government's cotton procurement operation in the backdrop of prices falling below support price level.

An official release said, cotton will be procured from 288 centres in nine cotton growing states. Three procurement centres have already become operationalised in Andhra Pradesh.

Currently, the MSP of medium staple cotton has been fixed at 3,600 rupees per quintal, while long staple cotton at 3,900 rupees per quintal.