The government is planning to revive the Cotton Technology Mission and allocate ₹500 crore for a five-year plan.
Finance Minister Expected to Announce Funding for Overhauled Scheme
In the upcoming budget, the central government is anticipated to unveil a revitalized Cotton Technology Mission aimed at integrating cutting-edge technologies to boost farmers' yields. This initiative is being collaboratively developed by the Ministry of Textiles and the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), according to sources.
Initially launched in 1999-2000, the Technology Mission on Cotton (TMC) was a three-year program extended several times until it concluded in 2013-14. Between 2000 and 2010, the government invested ₹421 crore in TMC. Since 2014-15, cotton has been included under the National Food Security Mission (NFSM), a move some experts argue has diluted the focus on this crucial crop.
The revamped TMC will concentrate on two main components: Mini Mission I (MM I) and Mini Mission II (MM II). MM I will focus solely on research, while MM II will emphasize extension work, fostering a connection between farmers and the industry.
ICAR's Request and Funding Allocation
Sources indicate that the Finance Minister may announce funding for the revamped TMC over a five-year period, responding to ICAR's recommendation that funding for cotton research projects should span at least four years to achieve meaningful results. Union Textile Minister Giriraj Singh is reportedly eager to expedite the rollout of the revamped TMC, having engaged directly with leading agricultural scientists and ICAR Director General Himanshu Pathak.
Although specific details are still being finalized, official sources suggest that an allocation of at least ₹500 crore over the five-year period is necessary to yield significant results. While there is some resistance to providing direct subsidies, the government is exploring options to facilitate easy credit from banks for farmers. This would involve private industry covering the repayment burden, which would then be adjusted against cotton sales.
Potential Introduction of New Bt Cotton
Cotton farmers may also be provided with short-term crop loans at higher limits than the current ₹3 lakh at subsidized interest rates. This would enable them to invest in infrastructure improvements and adopt best management practices, including the latest technologies, according to a cotton seed expert.
Last week, Minister Singh indicated that a new variety of technologically advanced Bt cotton might soon be approved for commercial cultivation, potentially benefiting the Indian textile industry significantly. He emphasized efforts to address labor issues in the textile sector by leveraging the Self-Help Groups (SHG).
"Trials of Herbicide Tolerance (HT) Bt cotton (also known as BG III) are underway. Once ICAR completes its assessments and necessary approvals are obtained, commercial cultivation could be permitted," Singh told BusinessLine. This variety could reduce production costs for farmers, increase the area under cotton cultivation, and significantly benefit the textile industry.
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