Modi Criticises Centre Over Ban On Cotton Export.

Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi today criticised the Central government for its "anti farmer" policies in context with the ban on export of cotton.

"Despite pleas on lifting ban on export of cotton made to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh several days ago, it has not been lifted," Modi told PTI.

Modi also asked the Congress-led UPA to stop playing politics with farmers of Gujarat saying the ban on cotton export in a year of bumper crop is just one of the several steps the Centre has taken to help its wheeler-dealers.

It seems the Centre has taken a 'supari' to ruin the state farmers, he alleged.

"The farmers of Gujarat have come of age and in case their third eye opens, they might not take the Delhi durbar's manoeuvring too kindly, lying down," he said.

Talking about the recently concluded Krishi Mahotsav held for the 7th successive year, Modi said, "It is for the first time in the history of India that ministers, one lakh government employees and agricultural scientists from the four state agricultural universities visited around 18,000 villages in the state and discussed their problems literally at their doorsteps."

Talking about the measures his government has taken for uplifting of farmers, Modi said Gujarat has freed farmers from their dependence on power to make water available to them through participatory management of water resources.

The chief minister also said that the state government has taken up a massive water conservation project, introduced scientific methods of farming and promoted animal husbandry to supplement the tillers' income.

The soil health card is another initiative by the government which has helped farmers choose crops for maximising production, he said.

Source : economictimes.indiatimes.com