ADVERTISEMENT

‘India will be the largest cotton producer’

Updated - December 02, 2023 10:45 pm IST

Published - December 02, 2023 09:29 pm IST - Coimbatore

Indian textile industry working towards achieving $250 billion by 2030, including $100 billion in exports, says Textiles Minister Piyush Goyal; inaugurates global cotton producing nations’ meet; also introduces ‘Kasturi Cotton Bharat’, a ‘blockchain traceable’ textile brand

Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal inaugurating the 81st Plenary Meeting of the International Cotton Advisory Committee in Mumbai on Saturday | Photo Credit: ANI

India will strive to become the largest cotton producer globally, Minister for Textiles, Commerce and Industry, Piyush Goyal, said in Mumbai on Saturday, inaugurating an annual global meeting of a UN recognised body of cotton producing and consuming nations.

ADVERTISEMENT

At the 81st plenary session of the International Cotton Advisory Committee (ICAC), the Minister said India has the largest area under cotton cultivation and is the second largest producer. “We need to become the world’s largest producer,” Mr. Goyal stressed, adding that the textile advisory group on cotton will work towards improving productivity similar to the level in countries like Australia.

India will provide leadership in cotton textiles and technical textiles. It has two advisory groups - for cotton and manmade fibre. These groups have representation from the entire textile value chain and take policy decisions with inputs from sector representatives. India has also launched PM MITRA - a Central government scheme to set up mega textile parks and promote the entire value chain.

ADVERTISEMENT

Mr. Goyal said the National Technical Textiles Mission promotes research and development in technical textiles. These are manmade fabric meant for a specific function and are not generally used for apparel or aesthetic appeal

The Indian textile industry is working towards achieving $250 billion by 2030, including $ 100 billion exports, he said.

In a fortnight, the Textile Ministry and the Department of Consumer Affairs would open state-of-the-art testing laboratories nationwide to ensure high quality textile products are manufactured and exported from India, Mr. Goyal said, introducing the “Kasturi Cotton Bharat” brand, which he claimed could be traceable using blockchain technology, and that it would be “carbon positive”.

The first set of textile products made using Kasturi cotton were also introduced at the event. Indian cotton farmers will benefit from drone-based pesticide spraying launched by Prime Minister Modi recently, the Minister said, adding that the use of innovation and Internet of Things will benefit Indian cotton farmers.

The four-day event on “Cotton Value Chain: Local Innovations for Global prosperity” is expected to be attended by delegates from 35 countries.

This is a Premium article available exclusively to our subscribers. To read 250+ such premium articles every month
You have exhausted your free article limit.
Please support quality journalism.
You have exhausted your free article limit.
Please support quality journalism.
The Hindu operates by its editorial values to provide you quality journalism.
This is your last free article.

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT