New Delhi, April 05: Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar has written to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh urging increase in export quota of cotton by 1.5 million bales to 7 million bales to help farmers realise better prices, sources said today.
The government had put a quantitative cap of 5.5 million bales (170 kg each) on cotton exports for the year ending September this year.
In the letter, Pawar has noted that there is a case for more cotton exports as domestic production is high and there is a global shortage of the natural fibre, sources said.
The letter has been written ahead of group of ministers (GoM) meeting scheduled on April 7 which would discuss whether or not to allow more exports.
The country is estimated to have harvested 33.9 million bales in 2010-11 crop year as against 24.22 million bales in the previous year.
-Agencies