According to Union Minister for Textiles, Commerce and Industry, Consumer Affairs, and Food and Public Distribution Piyush Goyal, a project to develop cotton markers will be started in collaboration with the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research-National Botanical Research Institute (CSIR-NBRI) to encourage DNA testing of cotton in the nation.
Speaking to the Textile Advisory Group on Cotton, he stated that the project aims to establish a protocol for DNA extraction from the various stages of cotton textiles, including short and long staple fibre, yarn, grey fabric, unbleached fabric, bleached fabric, printed fabric, finished dyed fabric, etc. The project also aims to develop genetic markers for precise discrimination of both inter- and intra-species cotton varieties.
The Minister evaluated the traceability, certification, and branding of Kasturi Cotton India as well, per an official press release. The branding strategy for Kasturi Cotton has been finalised and will be introduced globally by the Cotton Textiles Export Promotion Council, the project’s implementing partner.
9,327 hectares of operational space have been covered by a unique project to increase cotton productivity. The Minister suggested that in order to scale up the experiment for the following cotton season, the project’s effects should be investigated.
