As part of the Indo German Development cooperation framework, the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) has collaborated with Ministry of Textiles (MoT) supported by Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (MoAFW). An MOU was signed between Deutsche Gesellschaft fur InternationaleZusammenarbeit (GIZ) and the Ministry of Textiles Govt. of India on Implementation Agreement of Indo German Technical Cooperation Project on ‘Sustainability and Value Added in the Cotton Economy’ here today. The objective of the project is `to increase the value addition from sustainable cotton production in India by focusing on sustainable cotton, and strengthening of downstream processing’. It is focussing on 4 majorly cotton producing states- Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Tamil Nadu and will work closely with them and the related agencies. The MoU was signed by Shri Sanjay Sharan, Joint. Secretary on behalf of Ministry of Textiles andMrMohd. -El-Khawab, Programme Coordinator GIZ India and Dr. Rossitza Krueger, Programme Head, Sustainable Cotton Project, GIZ, in the presence of Minister of State for Textiles, Smt. DarshnaVikramJardosh, who presided over the event and Shri U. P. Singh Secretary, Ministry of Textiles.
Speaking on the occasion Smt. DarshnaJardosh said that the GIZ project is aimed at increasing volume of cotton production at least on 90,000 hac with participation of 1.50 lakh cotton farmers with yield increase by 10%. This will enable capacity building of the 1.50 lakh farmers& entrepreneurs of which about 30% will be women beneficiaries.
The Minister mentioned that India is the largest cotton producer in the world and also the 2nd largest consumer of cotton in the world with estimated consumption of 303 lakh bales (5.15 Million Metric Tones i.e. 20% of world cotton consumption of 1505 lakh bales (25.59 Million Metric Tones)It plays a major role in sustaining thelivelihood of an estimated 6 Million cotton farmers and about 50 Million people engaged inrelatedactivity suchascotton processing & trade.
She further stated that the GIZ project will also help in enhancing employment and women empowerment in training and capacity building on sustainable cotton growing practices by innovation in new cotton processing procedures and ginning etc.
Shri U. P. Singh in his address said that today being the ‘World Cotton Day’ is an important day for the Ministry of Textiles. He said that cotton is important cash crop and the entire edifice of Textile Industry depend on natural fibers likecotton, jute and wool. He said that development without sustainability has lost value in current scenario. The Secretary informed that focusof project is to work with major global textile companies to create the “pull” factor for improved market access by the farmers for their sustainably grown cotton. The project envisages promotion of sustainable cotton cultivation methods emphasizing on implementation of good agriculture practices, he added.
The project follows “From shelf to field” approach, with the strategy to link consumers to the cotton growers in India and work along the entire supply chain. The project is also focusing on creation and promotion of transparency about the prevalence and application of internationally recognized/accepted sustainability standards and promoting measures that reduce the water footprint in cotton production. This will help reduce vulnerability of cotton sector to ever-increasing water-stress worsened by climate vagaries.
The Ministry of Textiles, as the lead partner on the Indian government side, guides the project on main intervention areas based on its vision for textiles in India, through the establishment and convening of the project Steering Committee for project progress review and guide the project implementation. MoT enables the interface and coordination with the project nodal officers in the 4 states of Maharashtra, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu and Madhya Pradesh. MoT participates in the various International Textile Conferences and major GIZ organised events for sharing the Indian experiences and best practices, especially those emerging from this join Indo-German collaboration project. It also holds meetings with the GIZ project team for assessing technical progress, identify best practices and mapping key impact-results from time to time. This provides Ministry the evidence based best practices for mainstreaming and scaling up and in need-based policy changes.
The GIZ project envisages increase volume of cotton production atleast on 90,000 hac with participation of 1.50 lakh cotton farmers with yield increase by 10%.
*****
DJN/TFK
