Ginners in Gujarat have welcomed the Centre’s decision to allow exports of an additional 10 lakh bales of cotton during the current season ending September.
The Saurashtra Cotton Ginners’ Association demanded that the exports be allowed under Open General Licence (OGL).
“If it is under OGL, it will help the farmers immensely as the prices of cotton will go up because of this decision,” the association President, Mr Bharatbhai Vala, and the General Secretary, Mr Anand Popat, told PTI.
Exports of 55 lakh bales (170 kg each) had been allowed for 2010-11 season (October-September), the bulk of which has already been shipped out.
The decision to allow additional exports was taken by an informal Group of Ministers which met in Delhi yesterday under the chairmanship of the Finance Minister, Mr Pranab Mukherjee.
Before issuing notification to this effect, the Centre should ensure that there is a cap on export limit of say 5,000 or 10,000 bales that will benefit a large number of farmers who had resorted to panic selling of their stock in the market after textile mills almost stopping purchasing the produce, Mr Vala and Mr Popat said.