Ministers agree to cotton export, Vidarbha farmers joyous

Union Textile Minister Dayanidhi Maran and Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee gave an assurance to a delegation of Gujarat Congress workers today, who met the ministers demanding increase in cotton export.

According to the delegation members, they demanded approval of 1.5 million bales of export of cotton, which was accepted by Maran. "The ministers promised a meeting of Cotton Advisory Board would be convened, and said that cotton export will be permitted," Kishore Tiwari of Vidarbha Janandolan Samiti (VJAS) said in press note.

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"This cannot be called a total relief, as the permission for 1.5 million cotton bales is comparatively smaller against the huge demand. However, it will certainly create a better situation in local market where farmers are presently selling their cotton at throw-away prices out of panic," Tiwari added.