Tamil Nadu’s textile industry, that accounts for 1/3^rd of India’s total textile business and provides direct jobs to over 60 lakh people, is predominantly cotton based. The state’s textile industry requires 120 lakh bales of cotton annually (170 kgs each), however, it produces only 5 lakh bales per year. The spinning mills in the state spend between ₹3 and ₹6 per kg towards transportation to source cotton from other states.

In a press release, Ravi Sam, chairman, The Southern India Mills’ Association (SIMA) has thanked the chief minister M K Stalin and minister for agriculture M R K Paneerselvam for allocating ₹33,007.68 crore to the Agriculture Department which would greatly benefit the farmers at large and cotton farmers in particular. He also thanked them for allocating ₹15.32 crore in the budget to enhance the cotton yield.

The government has allocated ₹5,157.56 crore for free electricity supply to the farmers and will set up 3,000 solar powered pump sets for farmers across the state. About ₹150 crore has been allocated to use machinery to overcome labour shortage.

SIMA chief Sam also appreciated the announcement of implementing various special programmes jointly with the industry to create skilled labour force. The new industrial parks to be developed in 5 districts including in Vellore, Coimbatore and Perambalur to attract over ₹50,000 crores investments would considerably increase the economic growth of the nation.

He stated that the ambitious target of 14 per cent growth rate would encourage the textile industry in Tamil Nadu to scale up the production, make investments in green field projects, etc. He has also appreciated the announcement of export infrastructure development in major export hubs including Tiruppur which would benefit the textile industry to boost its exports.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (KD)