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Production of extra long staple fibre cotton to get boost: Nirmala Sitharaman

"The best of science and technology support will be provided to the farmers. This will help in increasing farmers income and ensure steady supply of quality cotton for rejuvenating India's traditional textile sector," Sitharaman said.

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman upon her arrival at the Parliament House complex to present the Union Budget 2025-26, in New Delhi, Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025. Sitharaman on Saturday will present her eighth consecutive Budget, which she will deliver from a digital tablet enclosed in a traditional 'bahi-khata' style pouch. (PTI Photo)

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday during the Union Budget announced a 5 year mission focused on improving the production of cotton, particularly extra long staple (ELS) cotton. India is highly import dependent on ELS cotton fibres that are longer than 35 mm and are known for its use in making high-quality fabrics.

“The best of science and technology support will be provided to the farmers. This will help in increasing farmers income and ensure steady supply of quality cotton for rejuvenating India’s traditional textile sector,” Sitharaman said.

The World Bank in September last year had said that India’s share in global exports of labour-intensive sectors such as apparel, leather, textiles, and footwear has declined. Meanwhile, countries like Bangladesh, Vietnam, Poland, Germany, and France have managed to increase their global export share in major job-creating sectors by up to 2 per cent between 2015 to 2022.

India’s textile and garment exports have remained stagnant at around $35 billion, while Vietnam and Bangladesh have gained market share, bolstered by free trade agreements (FTAs) and Least Developed Country (LDC) status, which provide a 10-15 per cent duty concession in the Western countries.

Ravi Dutta Mishra

Ravi Dutta Mishra is a Principal Correspondent with The Indian Express, covering policy issues related to trade, commerce, and banking. He has over five years of experience and has previously worked with Mint, CNBC-TV18, and other news outlets. ... Read More

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Union Budget 2025

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