The Union Minister of Textiles, Shri Giriraj Singh attended the celebration of World Cotton Day 2024 here today. The Ministry of Textiles jointly hosted the conference with Confederation of Indian Textile Industries (CITI) and Cotton Corporation of India focusing on the theme of "Megatrends Shaping Cotton Textile Value Chain”.

The Textiles Minister while addressing the august gathering reiterated the commitment of the government to achieve the target of USD 350 billion by 2030 including export target of USD 100 billion. This could only be achieved, if all the stakeholders in the cotton value chain join hands together. He also shared the experience that how adoption of best farm practice  like high density planting, closer spacing, drip fertigation etc., can increase the yield to even 1500 Kgs per hectares as against the present national average yield of about 450 kgs. Therefore, there is dire need to adopt best farm practices on saturation mode. The outcome of this pilot project will encourage the farmers of other area to adopt these practices for better yield.

He also expressed his concern about the problem of weed management in cotton farming which increases labour cost to cotton farmers. Further, cotton being predominantly grown in black soil causes difficulties in wet soil to have timely weed management. The efforts be made to help cotton farmers to overcome weed management problem by adopting suitable new seed varieties and he appealed to take this issue with all seriousness and examine the suitability of this new seed technology available in the world like HT BT for adoption in our country.

Smt Rachna Shah, Textiles Secretary in her address mentioned about the importance of cotton economy, which provides livelihood to six million cotton farmers directly and another employment to 45 million people engaged directly or indirectly in various other activities in the cotton value chain. She mentioned about the share of cotton fibre to the total fibre in the country at about 60%, where the same is at 23% in the world. However, she urged that all the stakeholders of the cotton value chain to concentrate in increasing cotton productivity, as India ranks 35^th in terms of yield. She appealed all stakeholders to adopt collaborative approach to address this serious challenge of productivity, being faced by entire cotton value chain.

Smt. Shubha Thakur, Additional Secretary, MoA&FW while discussing on the initiatives of the government in increasing yield of cotton, reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to work in close coordination with Ministry of Textiles, in adopting best farm practice by the farmers so as to improve livelihood of the farmers.  

Smt Prajakta Verma Joint Secretary, Ministry of Textiles while delivering key note address informed that enhancing sustainability is paramount and therefore Ministry has encouraged collaborative approach through formation of Textile Advisory Group (TAG) where the challenges of Textile Industry are being addressed through participative approach. She also highlighted inter-ministerial coordination in launching initiative of holistic plan to increase cotton production and yield which enable the farmers to increase their income.

The Union Minister of Textiles along with the dignitaries of the event visited to various exhibitor stalls who showcased Kasturi cotton products, recycled textiles, products of scrap fabrics, Handloom products etc.

The one day conference in commemoration of World Cotton Day 2024, highlighted best practices and sustainable farming methods, traceability, ESG data points for connecting farm to fashion, targeting technology like HDPS,  spanning from Farm to Fibre to Factory to Fashion to Foreign. Brainstorming sessions addressed crucial topics, including "Enhancing Sustainability & Traceability”, “Decent work in cotton supply chain”, “Evolving Trends in Cotton Farming” and “Cotton Trading and Risk Management “for Enhancing Quality & Productivity of Cotton".

During inaugural session Shri Rohit Kansal, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Textile highlighted that the country has set a target of creating Textile Ecosystem of USD 350 bn by 2030 from current USD 176 bn. He urged the stakeholders of cotton textile value chain to be cognisant of the challenges that are being posed by current and potential competing fibres so that cotton will be legacy sector of Indian Textile Industry, further he emphasised the sustainability is a sine qua non for cotton textile value chain. 

Shri Lalit Kumar Gupta, CMD CCI highlighted the important role being played by CCI as central nodal agency in empowering cotton farmers by use of technology and provides an alternate market channel for selling their produce.

Shri Rakesh Mehra, Chairman CITI emphasized that cotton being the oldest fibre in the textile industry plays a significant role in driving economic growth, employment generation, provides livelihood to farmers, women empowerment. He urged that the cotton to be produced more and more and increase the productivity so that the industry gets the raw material at competitive price.

The various other eminent speakers shared their experience and valuable insights during the occasion.

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