CCI asked to buy 15k cotton bales daily

The Central government on Thursday directed Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) to buy 15,000 bales of the natural fibre from Gujarat on a daily basis. Textiles Minister Anand Sharma asked the CCI to buy cotton from the state at Rs 4,400 per quintal, an official statement said. One cotton bale is equal to 170 kg. The move comes amid Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi's reported comments that the Centre "is taxing export of cotton (but is offering) subsidies on meat exports".