The Textile Ministry is on the brink of concluding its assessment of a pilot initiative, conducted in collaboration with the Agriculture Ministry, aimed at progressively enhancing the productivity of Indian cotton farmers to match global standards, reported The Economic Times.
Rachna Shah, the textile secretary, said, “We are trying to gradually raise the productivity of Indian cotton farmers from the average 450 kg per hectare to global levels of 1,500-2,200 kg per hectare.”
The comprehensive evaluation of this study, encompassing 15,000 farmers across ten key textile-producing states, is anticipated to be finalised by January 2024.
The upcoming 81st Plenary Meeting of the International Cotton Advisory Committee (ICAC) in Mumbai from 2nd-7th December will feature several innovations, emphasising local advancements and state-of-the-art technologies with potential global impact on the cotton value chain.
India’s Textile Ministry plans to unveil “Kasturi cotton,” its premium cotton variant, at this inter-governmental event, welcoming participants from 28 member countries and seven invitee countries.
“ICAC will be a platform to present Kasturi cotton before the global audience. There are three pillars to the premium product: branding, traceability and certification,” highlighted the secretary.
Blockchain technology will ensure the traceability of Kasturi cotton, employing QR codes for consumers to track the entire procurement process, she further explained.
India aims to position itself in the premium cotton segment, competing with renowned cotton varieties like Giza from Egypt and Suprima from the United States.
Additionally, the ICAC event will promote Bharat Tex 2024, scheduled for February, to showcase India’s handloom and textile products globally.
Simultaneously, while the ministry prepares to introduce premium cotton, it’s also swiftly addressing concerns regarding subdued prices for Indian cotton.
Lalit Kumar Gupta, Chairman and MD of the Cotton Corporation of India, noted the organization’s purchase of cotton at the Minimum Support Price at 450 locations. Last year, cotton prices surpassed Rs. 12,000 per quintal, while the MSP for long-staple cotton remains at Rs. 7,020 per quintal.
