| Minimum Support Prices have been
engaging serious attention of all the segments of
cotton economy.
Cotton Association of India (CAI) has been drawing
the attention of the Government, “not to
allow dislodging of marketing systems” which
is likely to occur in view of the anomalous situation
arising in the context of highly depressed global
markets, failing systems, total lack of confidence
all around, on the one hand and need to benefit
farmers through higher levels of MSPs on the other
hand.
Markets are reeling under serious recession and
contraction of demand. All the pillars of cotton
economy viz. textile mills, ginners, traders and
exporters are rattling under pressure for survival.
While it is agreeably desirable to protect the
interests of the large number of our farmers adequately,
it is equally a critical necessity to take care
of atleast the basic survival and sustainability
of other constituents of cotton economy. In the
ultimate analysis, the farmers’ interests
are intricately inter-woven and integrated with
the rest of the cotton economy.
To pave way for solutions, a delegation of All
Gujarat Ginners’ Association along with
ginners from all the States and representatives
of CAI as well as Confederation of Indian Textile
Industries (CITI) called on Shri Sharad Pawarji,
Hon’ble Minister for Agriculture, Government
of India and made submissions about how the global
as well as Indian cotton and textile situation
is vulnerable and also as to the imminent threat
to very survival of cotton and textile sector
in India in the prevailing difficult circumstances,
if not appropriately rectified without delay.
We all are grateful to the Hon’ble Minister
for giving us a patient hearing and assuring us
that the Government will sympathetically address
the concerns of the cotton and textile sector and
work out a suitable remedial solution for protecting
the interests of all segments of cotton economy.
We understand that All Gujarat Ginners Association
subsequently met Shri Shankersinh Vaghelaji, Hon’ble
Minister for Textiles on 9th November, 2008, when
the Hon’ble Minister assured them his full
support to ginning industry and cotton trade to
get over the present dilemma.
Cotton Association of India again strongly appeals
to the Government to seriously and urgently consider
the difficulties of the trade and industry and
announce appropriate remedial solutions as early
as possible.
P.D. Patodia,
President
Mumbai,
12th November, 2008
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