On the occasion of World Cotton Day, an MOU was signed between Deutsche Gesellschaft fur InternationaleZusammenarbeit (GIZ) and the Indian Ministry of Textiles on Implementation Agreement of Indo German Technical Cooperation Project on ‘Sustainability and Value Added in the Cotton Economy’. It will provide as a framework for an Indo-German Development cooperation.

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 Sanjay Sharan, Joint Secretary on behalf of Ministry of Textiles and Mohd. 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, Darshna Vikram Jardosh, who presided over the event and U. P. Singh Secretary, Ministry of Textiles.

The GIZ project is aimed at increasing volume of cotton production at least on 90,000 ha with participation of 1.50 lakh cotton farmers with yield increase by 10 percent. It 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.

Minister U. P. Singh in his address said that cotton is important cash crop and the entire edifice of Textile Industry depend on natural fibres like cotton, jute and wool. The Secretary informed that focus of 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 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.

India plays a major role in sustaining the livelihood of an estimated 6 million cotton farmers and about 50 million people engaged in related activity such as cotton processing & trade.

Image Courtesy: PIB