PROTECTING GROWERS: Shankersinh Vaghela (left), Union Textile Minister and E.V.K. S. Elangovan, Minister of State for Textiles, at a press conference in Bangalore on Monday. BANGALORE: Addressing the media here on Monday the Union Minister of Textiles, Shankersinh Vaghela, said Indian exports of raw cotton, which amounted to nearly 100 lakh bales last year will continue. Referring to the demand of the textile mills that exports are resulting in a sharp increase in the price of cotton, he said, "Cotton exports will continue because we are committed to protecting the interests of cotton growers.' "My ministry has recommended that the import duty, now at 14 per cent, be eliminated,' he said. This, he said, would ensure that the raw material would be available at cheaper prices for the textile industry. Referring to the complaints by millowners that raw cotton prices had escalated sharply because of exports, Mr. Vaghela suggested that cotton mills purchase cotton when prices were low and to stock the input. Cotton exports increased from 12 lakh bales (a bale is 170 kg) in 2003-04 to nearly 100 lakh bales last year. This, he said, was possible because of the sharp increase in the acreage under cotton, the increase in output and productivity. The increasing area under Bt cotton facilitated this increase, he added. Outlining the achievements of the four-year-old United Progressive Alliance in the development of the textile industry, Mr. Vaghela said, in 2004, the industry was a "sunset industry'. "Today, it is a sunrise industry because of our efforts.' He said textile exports in 2007-08 were worth $20.5 billion and is likely to grow by 20 per cent in the current year. Thirty Integrated Textile Parks, attracting an investment of Rs. 17,000 crore would become operational by the end of the current fiscal, which would employ 5.75 lakh workers. Ten more parks would become operational by 2012, he said. Union Minister of State for Textiles, E. V. K. S. Elangovan, said the ministry was "considering support for Tirupur-based exporters' who had suffered losses on account of exposure to financial derivatives. The Joint Secretary, Ministry of Textiles, Jain Singh, said exports were necessary because there was excess supply of cotton. He pointed out that the country produced 315 lakh bales of cotton in 2007-08 while demand was only for 240 lakh bales. He said cotton production in the current year was expected to be about 325 lakh bales. Strike call The Karnataka Textile Mills' Association (KTMA) has called a strike by mills in the State on July 9 protesting against the "abnormal hike' in the price of cotton. The KTMA chairman, C. Valliappa, said the price of raw cotton had increased by 38 per cent in the current year. The "lack of parity' between cotton and yarn prices, he claimed, had caused huge losses to the textile mills in the State. The association has demanded the immediate suspension of cotton exports. Mr. Valliappa urged the Karnataka Chief Minister, B. S. Yeddyurappa, to "take up the matter' with the Prime Minister.