By: Seshadri Ramkumar, Professor, Texas Tech University, USA
(Lubbock, USA, October 4, 2023)–Where are the cotton and textiles markets heading? At the behest of Ahmedabad-based Diagonal Consulting, Professor Seshadri Ramkumar of Texas Tech University delivered an invited presentation on “Sustainability, Cotton and Global Textiles.” The lecture was delivered at 2.30AM CST-USA, October 4, 2023 virtually to an audience of about 150 attending in person in ATIRA Campus, Ahmedabad. The conference was chaired by Dr. P. R. Roy, former Group CEO, Arvind Group, and a revered textile industry veteran in India.
Dr. Ramkumar articulated that the industry should focus on 1) Economic sustainability; 2) Environmental sustainability and 3) Employee sustainability.
Demand will be the key driver for the industry, which needs an uptick now. Dr. Ramkumar emphasized the importance of two regions for the global cotton sector: 1) High Plains of Texas and 2) Saurashtra, Gujarat, India.
Firsthand information on High Plains cotton production was possible due to the support of Ms. Kara Bishop of Plains Cotton Growers, Inc., Lubbock.
Going forward, textile industry and/or global sector should focus on modernization, value-addition, increasing the productivity. About Indian cotton sector, yield and quality improvements are needed.
The talk of 37 minutes presents an overall scenario and a few thoughts for improvement.
