SIMA Cotton Development and Research Association (SIMA CD & RA) established in the year 1974 by The Southern India Mills’ Association, the apex body that represents the whole textile value chain in South, has been playing a major role in the cotton development activities during the last five decades. SIMA CD & RA has been producing genetically pure cotton seeds and supplying upto 600 Metric Tonnes of seeds directly to the farmers till the BT cotton was introduced. SIMA CD & RA is the only NGO continues to produce non-GMO seeds and maintains around 700 cotton Germplasm of precious and heritage cotton varieties. Thirteen cotton seeds including Extra Long Staple Cotton, high density planting cotton etc., have recently been licensed for commercial multiplication. SIMA CD & RA has been partnering with Ministry of Agriculture, Government of India and Departments of Agriculture in Southern States, especially with Government of Tamil nadu in various cotton development activities including constantly upgrading the cotton farmers. SIMA CD & RA also has developed a battery operated kapasplucker that reduces 70% of the cotton plucking cost apart from preventing the deterioration of cotton quality.
At the 47th Annual General Meeting of SIMA CD & RA held on 30th September 2022 held at Coimbatore, Mr.G. Venkataramachandran, Managing Director of Laven Technoblend Limited, Coimbatore, Dr.S.K. Sundararaman, Managing Director of Shiva Texyarn Limited, Coimbatore and Mr. Durai Palanisamy, Executive Director, Pallava Textiles P Limited, Erode were elected as Chairman, Deputy Chairman and Vice-Chairman respectively.
In a Press Release issued here today, the new Chairman of SIMA CD & RA, Mr.G.Venkataramachandran has stated that the Association would play a vital role in augmenting cotton production, productivity and improving quality, the need of the hour for reviving predominantly cotton based textile industry from the unforeseen crisis. He said that the country has become a cotton deficit one from the status of surplus owing to the continuous fall in the crop size and productivity apart from the deterioration in the cotton fibre quality parameters making the farmers and the industry to suffer. He has highly appreciated the initiatives taken by the Hon’ble Minister of Textiles, Shri Piyush Goyal for constituting a Committee under the Chairmanship of ShriSuresh A Kotak to address the issues relating to cotton seeds, quality, pest attack, agronomy practices, etc. Mr.Venkataramachandran has stated that SIMA CD & RA has been giving necessary inputs and taking active part through its parent body SIMA.
Mr.Venkatramachandran has thanked the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Tamilnadu for allocating Rs.7.24 crores for Sustainable Cotton Mission for the year 2022-23. He further thanked the Hon’ble Chief Minister for indicating some funds for the promotion of ELS cotton and distribution of SIMA’s kapasplucker at a concessional rate to the cotton farmers in Tamilnadu.
