Cotton mills in south Gujarat to join strike from today

To protest the union government's decision of imposing cess on cotton and prohibiting its exports, a strike has been organised by cotton producing farmers and spinning mills on May 5. Farmers and mills from south Gujarat will join the strike, if the centre does not roll back its decision. A two-day strike beginning May 5 has been organised by traders, farmers and spinning mills of north Gujarat to protest against the union government's move on imposing cess and prohibiting exports. To protest this, no purchase or sale of cotton will be made during these two days in all markets. The strike has got support from south Gujarat as well. Farmers and mills in the region have decided to support their move and are terming it as a fight for their existence."Union government first imposed export duty of Rs2500 and on April 19, issued orders banning export of cotton. This has created adverse affect on farmers and spinning mills. Mills are not procuring cotton, while continuous decrease in prices is affecting the farmers. Within a week, the price of cotton per quintal has gone down by Rs300 and will go down further, if the decision is not changed," Jayesh Patel, proprietor of Puroshottam Firm, said.Patel added that more than 5000 cotton bags are lying at various godowns in the state due to the decision. The entire cotton industry will collapse if the union government does not change its position.There are three cotton spinning mills in the region named Puroshottam Firms, Hansot Ginning Mills and Valia Ginning Mills. While more than 20,000 farmers are associated with cotton production in the region.