India must be prepared to meet growing global demand for quality cotton: V-P Radhakrishnan

Vice-President C P Radhakrishnan on Tuesday underlined the need for India to strengthen its global competitiveness and prepare to meet the growing domestic and international demand for quality cotton.

Radhakrishnan was briefed at Uprashtrapati Bhavan on the Mission for Cotton Productivity (Kapas Kanti) by Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Union Minister of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare and Rural Development, along with senior officials of the Ministries of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare and Textiles.

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The Vice-President emphasised the importance of creating greater public awareness about the Mission, adopting market-responsive strategies, and highlighting successful initiatives through television documentaries for wider dissemination.

The briefing covered the Mission’s three key components: enhancing cotton productivity through research, technology and improved farming practices; ensuring a steady supply of superior quality cotton through initiatives such as KASTURI Cotton certification and the Kisan Kapas App; and promoting new-age natural fibres to drive innovation and sustainability in the textile sector.

Appreciating the Mission’s holistic approach towards strengthening India’s cotton ecosystem, the Vice-President emphasised the need for time-bound approval mechanisms to accelerate innovation and facilitate the timely adoption of new technologies.

Stressing the importance of improving per-acre cotton yield, he called for clear and measurable targets to enhance productivity and bridge the gap with leading cotton-producing countries.