Piyush Goyal, Minister for Textiles, Commerce, and Industry, announced on Saturday that India is determined to become the largest cotton producer worldwide. Speaking at the annual global meeting of the International Cotton Advisory Committee (ICAC), Goyal emphasized India’s vast cotton cultivation area, stating that the country is currently the second-largest producer and needs to achieve the top spot.
Goyal underlined the importance of improving productivity, positioning India’s cotton industry on par with countries like Australia. He further highlighted India’s leadership in cotton and technical textiles, with two advisory groups dedicated to these sectors. These groups encompass representatives from the textile value chain and play a vital role in policy decisions.
India recently launched the PM MITRA scheme to boost the textile industry’s growth, aiming to establish mega textile parks and promote the entire value chain. Additionally, Goyal mentioned the National Technical Textiles Mission, which supports research and development in technical textiles for specific functions.
To achieve $250 billion by 2030, including $100 billion in exports, the Indian textile industry is actively working towards expansion. In line with this objective, Goyal revealed plans to open state-of-the-art testing laboratories nationwide, guaranteeing the production and export of high-quality textile products.
Goyal also introduced the new “Kasturi Cotton Bharat” brand, which employs blockchain technology to ensure traceability and claims to be “carbon positive.” The event witnessed unveiling of the first range of textile products made using Kasturi cotton.
Goyal applauded Prime Minister Modi’s recent launch of drone-based pesticide spraying as a significant benefit for Indian cotton farmers. He stressed the importance of embracing innovation and Internet of Things (IoT) technologies to enhance the agricultural sector further.
The event, themed “Cotton Value Chain: Local Innovations for Global Prosperity,” is set to draw delegates from 35 countries over four days, highlighting India’s growing significance in the global cotton industry.
