Date:26/05/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/05/26/stories/2008052652800400.htm

Tamil Nadu - Coimbatore

Ban on cotton exports sought

M. Soundariya Preetha

COIMBATORE: The South India Small Spinners’ Association has appealed to the Union Government to ban cotton exports.

Association president R. Kuppusamy has said in a release that during 2006-2007 (October-September), about 30 lakh bales of cotton were exported from the country. This year, the exports were expected to touch nearly 100 lakh bales. Permitting export of the raw material without taking into account the domestic requirement had hit the local mills since the units were unable to get cotton at reasonable prices. The mills were unable to import cotton due to the 15 per cent import duty.

The export incentive for cotton exports benefits only traders and not farmers.