Import policy draws flak

VADODARA, Nov 29: The Gujarat Kapas Utpadak Heet Rakshak Sangh has criticised the Central government8217;s policy for announcing unhindered import of agricultural products including cotton and groundnut as per its agreement with the World Trade Organisation stating that it is adversely affecting the farming sector in Gujarat.

In a press release, the Sangh said that as per the Cotton Advisory Board, while 36.5 lakh bales of cotton were produced last year, this season 175 lakh bales were produced and for the coming season it was expected to go down by 49 lakh bales. The release said that despite such adverse conditions the government had imported 18 lakh bales of cotton.

The Sangh claimed that the farmers were facing innumerable difficulties because of the new policy and added that the cost of cotton had been dropping consistently over the years. The release said that at the start of the season the cost was Rs 20,500 but now it has gone down to Rs 17,500.

The release appealed to the State government to come to the farmers8217; rescue or else they might have to die of starvation.