Page 74 - New Cloth Market November 2022 Digital Edition

NEWS BRIEFS

& Industry, Consumer Affairs and
Food & Public Distribution, Shri Piy-
ush Goyal held third interactive meet-
ing with the Textile Advisory Group
(TAG) at VanijyaBhawan, New Delhi,
on 07.11.2022 to review progress of
initiatives for cotton value chain. Smt.
Darshana V. Jardosh, Minister of State
for Textiles and Railways, Smt. Rach-
na Shah, Secretary Textiles, Shri
Suresh Kotak, Chairman, TAG, Senior
Officials from related Ministries and
cotton value chain stakeholders were
present.
Shri Goyal reviewed the actions initi-
ated subsequent to the last interac-
tive meeting held at New Delhi. A ho-
listic plan for increasing cotton pro-
ductivity was presented by ICAR-Cen- Shri Piyush Goyal holding a review meeting with the Textile Advisory
tral Institute for Cotton Research - Group & stakeholders of the Textiles Sector to discuss ways to boost
(CICR), Nagpur for bringing improve- cotton productivity & quality by strengthening: testing facilities; greater
ment in cotton productivity through accuracy of cotton statistics along the value chain.
farmer awareness program, HDPS
traceability. He assured that adequate try for change of color of fertilizer bags
and global best farm practices.
modern testing facilities would be cre- (that are reused by farmers in cotton
Shri Goyal stressed that this is the ated through BIS and TRAs. picking and storing) which have been
high time for branding Indian cotton attributed as one of the major cause
For increase of cotton productivity,
and create a loyality and a pull for the of contamination in cotton, Shri Goy-
Shri Goyal emphasized that supply of
KASTURI branded products from con- al highlighted that Government of In-
good quality cotton seeds is the need
sumers and is a welcome step towards dia has notified ‘One Nation One Fer-
of the hour and requires some con-
AtmaNirbhar Bharat. Shri Goyal de- tilizer’ scheme which defines logo and
crete action from related Ministries on
sired that the industry should be on pattern, to take care of this concern.
war footing. He also stressed the need
the forefront and work on the princi-
to introduce advanced technologies
ple of self regulation by owning the The industry and textile value chain
related to high yielding cotton seeds
responsibility of branding and certify- stakeholders expressed their sincere
and innovative agronomy such as High
ing Indian cotton KASTURI. gratitude for the prompt and pragmat-
Density Planting System to enhance ic approach of the Minister to address
Further, Shri Goyal pointed out that productivity of cotton. On mechaniza-
quality of Indian cotton fibre is para- tion of picking by use of hand held their issues through consultations.
mount, therefore implementation of kapas plucker machines, developed
cotton bales quality control order un- by SIMA-CDRA, which would support Shri Piyush Goyal
der BIS act 2016 is a must for stan- the farmer producer, Shri Goyal urged chairs review meeting
dardization of cotton bales in terms that textile Industry and Industry As-
of technical quality parameters and sociations should join hands to pro- of Textile Research As-
identification of cotton bale traceabil- mote and popularize mechanization. sociations (TRAs)
ity for the benefit of all stakeholders. The Confederation of Indian Textile
Shri Goyal appreciated the Action tak- Industry (CITI) will take up this project Encourage startups and young
en by Industry and its nominated body in mission mode with distribution sup- scientists in the niche areas like
to work on Quality, Traceability and port from Cotton Corporation of India Technical Textiles. Special fund
needs to be created to increase
Branding of KASTURI Cotton. Gov- Ltd. Industry Associations and Indus- intake of scientists in TRAs. Insti-
ernment shall be supporting the ini- try leaders together agreed to fund tutionalize the quarterly engage-
tiative with funds matching to Indus- 75,000 hand held kapas Plucker ma- ment of TRAs with the Ministry.
try Contribution. chines. Additionally, FPOs may be Need to Fast Track clearance of
actively involved to empower cotton patents filed by Government relat-
Shri Goyal emphasized strengthening
farmers. ed bodies
testing facility needed to conform to
KASTURI standards, DNA testing and Responding to the demand of Indus- Union Minister of Commerce and In-

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