Ban on cotton export and losses brought to notice of Sonia Gandhi

Maharashtra Minister for Social Justice, Shivajirao Moghe has drawn the attention of UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi towards the ban imposed on export of cotton and subsequent losses to the tune of few hundred crores.

He has urged the Congress president to direct the Centre and State to initiate appropriate steps to lift the ban.

Moghe, who hails from cotton-growing areas in Yavatmal in Vidarbha region, met Sonia Gandhi at her residence last evening and apprised her of the plight of thousands of cotton growers in the suicide-prone Vidarbha region.

"The Congress President was surprised to learn about the misery of cotton growers who have been denied appropriate prices to their produce and export in the international market for fetching handsome remunerative prices," Moghe said.

He said due to the ban imposed on cotton export, the prices of cotton have come down by Rs 400 to Rs 500 per quintal.

Before meeting Sonia in New Delhi, Moghe also met Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar and apprised him about the plight of cotton growers in Vidarbha.

He said the Centre has clamped a ban on export of cotton, some one and half months back when the prices of cotton were prevailing at Rs 3,300 which have now dropped to Rs 2,800 per quintal, Moghe said.

"If the Centre does not change its policy, the cotton growers will suffer financially," he said.