NEWS BRIEFS the theme “Moving Beyond the Con- ventional Paradigms” the Minister said that as we celebrate the World Cotton Day today, we celebrate a future which is assured to be sustainable, a value chain which enjoys a trade legacy unmatched by any other fibre, a cot- ton eco-system which will help chan- nel development assistance for cot- ton for those who need it the most. Indian democracy wove its freedom from cotton and today stands com- mitted to weave a prosperous cotton future for all, he added. Shri Goyal said that Honorable Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi has set new benchmark of politics of service, Keeping in view the dream and commitment of the Prime Minis- ter, Shri Narendra Modi to make India Aatmnirbhar in every sphere, it is in- cumbent on all of us to march ahead and focus on the key areas like in- creasing the productivity of Indian cotton, Improving cotton cultivation practices, reducing import depen- dency and creating self-sufficiency of Extra Long Staple Cotton, Organic Cotton and Contaminant-Controlled cotton within our country. Goyal said that the Government and the industry need to work together for the progressive development of the cotton value chain. He said that it is time to show that the target of US$ 44 billion for this year is easily achiev- able and we are eagerly looking for more daunting challenges like reach- ing US$ 350 bn market size, includ- ing US$ 100 bn exports by 2025-26. Recalling the quote of Mahatma Gandhi on the occasion, “I see God in every thread that I draw on the spin- ning wheel. The spinning wheel repre- sents the hope of the masses”, Shri Goyal said that this is really a source of biggest strength, motivation and an impetus to cotton sector. The minister further stated that farm- ers should be motivated through awareness meetings, timely adviso- ries and transfer of technology from lab to field in the most effective man- ner by using natural methods andMinister of Commerce & Industry, Consumer Affairs & Food & Public Distribution and Textiles, Govt. of India Piyush Goyal speaking at the Cotton Webinar on World Cotton Day. To watch this webinar, just scan the adjoining QR code. adoption of modern scientific farm practices. Domestic Textile Industry, instead of importing contaminant con- trolled cotton from other countries, should come together to strategize and implement more sustainable ways of cotton production in collaboration with the cotton research institutes and farmers. He said that productivity enhance- ment and sustainable quality cotton are both inter-connected issues. Our focus should be on enhancing our pro- ductivity from the current level of around 450 Kg lint/hectare to at least 800-900 Kg lint per hectare by adopt- NCM-OCTOBER 2021 88ing the latest innovative technologies and global best farming practices. The minister also mentioned that In- dia occupies 1st place in the world in cotton acreage with 133.41 Lakh Hect- ares area under cotton cultivation i.e. around 42% of world area of 319.81 Lakh Hectares. Around 67% of India’s cotton is grown on rain-fed areas and 33% on irrigated area. India is the larg- est cotton producer in the world. India’s Cotton Production of 360 lakh bales (6.12 Million MT) accounts for around 25% of the total global cotton produc- tion. India is also the 2nd largest con- sumer of cotton in the world with esti-