<h1>Agriculture minister asks Cotton Corporation to buy cotton at MSP to protect farmers as market prices slump</h1> State agriculture minister sought the Cotton Corporation of India's intervention after cotton was trading below the minimum support price (MSP) of Rs 7,710 per quintal, with mandi rates reported around Rs 5,600-5,800 per quintal. Authorities said cotton acreage rose about 20% year-on-year to 1.19 lakh hectares from 99,000 hectares, following efforts to shift farmers from water-intensive paddy. The government requested CCI to enter the market and procure crop stocks to stabilize prices and ensure growers receive MSP or fair remuneration.