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The Government of Tamil Nadu has announced its plans to launch a Tamil Nadu Cotton Cultivation Mission, to increase the cultivation of cotton crop to 6 lakh acres in the next five years. The Southern India Mills' Association (SIMA) has welcomed the announcement stating that the Mission would go a long way in reaching self-sufficiency in cotton production.
The State Finance Minister O Panneerselvam, in his budget speech today said, “As the production of cotton within the State is inadequate, an ambitious Tamil Nadu Cotton Cultivation Mission will be launched in the State with an initial outlay of Rs 50 crore.”
Th Mission would focus on higher productivity and production and the funds under the Cotton Technology Mission of the Government of India will also be dovetailed with the State Mission. “It is proposed to bring at least 3.70 lakh acres under cotton crop by 2014 2015, and ultimately increase it to cover 6 lakh acres in the next five years through this Mission,” he added.
Cotton is at present cultivated in the State in 3.34 lakh acres, with a production of four lakh bales. There are 1,948 spinning mills in the State requiring 110 lakh bales of cotton per year.
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T.Rajkumar, chairman, SIMA welcomed the announcement and said that it is timely as the textile mills in the State are spending huge amount towards transportation of cotton from upcountry States and selling the cotton yarn in the same markets. Establishment of Cotton Cultivation Mission will go a long way in reaching self-sufficiency in cotton production, he added.
The industry has also expressed its happiness in wind power evacuation, as the sector has suffered considerably during the current wind season due to partial non-evacuation of wind power. He also thanked the Chief Minister for mitigating the power crisis in the State on a war footing and considerably reducing the shortage.
