New Delhi, Apr 5 Agriculture Minister Mr Sharad Pawar has written to Prime Minister Mr 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, Mr 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 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. Currently domestic prices of cotton are ruling firm at Rs 62,000 per candy (356 kg) while international prices are higher by 3 to 4 per cent.