Modi 3.0 to focus on India's cotton production & technical textiles

In preparation for the new administration, the Indian bureaucracy has outlined 50 key goals to be achieved within the first 100 days. These include both immediate and long-term objectives, with some initiatives projected to extend over the next 2-3 years. Among these, the textile sector is expected to receive focused attention, with long-term plans being formulated to drive sustained growth and innovation.

According to sources, ministry secretaries, senior officials, and NITI Aayog have been working since February this year to set goals for the first 100 days after the new government takes over. Ten sectoral groups of secretaries were formed to establish goals in various areas and sectors. Goals of utmost priority will be announced by Prime Minister Modi immediately after he assumes office for the third term. Ministers will announce other goals in the next few days.

The new government will focus on several areas, including trade and commerce. PM Modi has asked his ministries to draft a roadmap for the first 100 days and the next 5 years. Regarding the textile sector, the ministry has proposed to kick-start the Cotton Technology Mission, with a primary focus on technology to adopt best practices, reduce cotton imports, and increase farmers’ income. Funds will be allocated within 100 days for the mission.

India imports 500,000 bales of high-quality cotton, each weighing 170 kg, and still requires additional quantities, as per industry sources. The proposed Cotton Technology Mission will be executed with the support of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), the Cotton Association of India (CAI), and ginners' trade bodies. This mission aims to reduce trash and contamination by utilising real-time testing with new technologies. The government also plans to boost production through high-density planting of domestic cotton varieties.

Currently, cotton production in India is on the decline, following an initial surge with the introduction of BT cotton. This decrease is attributed to recurrent pest attacks and disease issues that BT cotton has failed to mitigate effectively. Despite its shortcomings, the price of BT cotton seeds has increased in recent years.

The new government is expected to prioritise technical textiles, adopting a mission mode approach. Indian textile start-ups have been innovating to expand their presence in this sector. To further support these start-ups, the government is likely to overhaul policies and programmes, enabling them to make significant strides in the global market. The technical textiles sector, a rapidly growing market, has the potential to see its exports soar from $2.5 billion to $10 billion over the next five years.

ALCHEMPro News Desk (KUL)