Shivraj Chouhan to chair high-level meet on cotton crisis in Coimbatore
The meeting will focus on strategies to enhance cotton productivity, tackle viral infestations, and ensure the availability of high-quality seeds to farmers.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare stated that the meeting would bring together a wide spectrum of stakeholders, including cotton farmers, scientists, agriculture ministers from cotton-growing states, senior government officials, representatives from the cotton industry, and agricultural universities.
'Cotton production in India has been steadily declining, mainly due to the TSV virus affecting BT cotton,' Minister Chouhan said in a video message ahead of the meeting.
He emphasised that the purpose of the gathering is to conduct an in-depth discussion on boosting productivity, reducing input costs, and developing high-quality, climate-resilient seed varieties.
'This meeting aims to create a practical and sustainable roadmap for the revival of cotton cultivation in the country,' he said.
Chouhan reiterated the Centre's strong commitment to improving the welfare of farmers. 'It is our firm resolve to enhance cotton production and uplift the livelihoods of our cotton-growing brothers and sisters. The challenges we face can only be overcome through collective effort,' he noted.
To ensure wider participation and gather inputs from the grassroots, the Ministry has also launched a toll-free helpline -- 1800 180 1551 -- inviting cotton farmers from across the country to share their suggestions, experiences, and concerns.
The minister assured that all inputs received through the helpline would be taken seriously and considered in policy formulation. The meeting is scheduled to begin at 10.00 a.m. on July 11 and is expected to witness the active participation of senior officials, top scientists, and policy-makers, including the Director General of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR).
Issuing a heartfelt appeal to the farming community, Chouhan said, 'Together, we will overcome this challenge and bring about a revival in cotton production in India. Your insights will help shape policies that are rooted in real-world challenges.'
The meeting in Coimbatore is seen as a critical step towards restoring the health of India's cotton sector and ensuring long-term sustainability for millions of farmers who depend on it.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hans India
14 minutes ago
- Hans India
Experts highlight long-term frameworks for sustainable port devpt
Visakhapatnam: Panel discussions centred on enhancing regional maritime cooperation, port efficiency, cruise tourism, and human resource development across the Bay of Bengal region were held on the second day of the BIMSTEC Ports Conclave in Visakhapatnam on Tuesday. Subject experts across various sessions offered insights into key issues related to maritime trade. The day began with a panel discussion on enhancing intra-regional trade, currently at just 7 percent. The session focused on the need to streamline customs procedures, eliminate regulatory bottlenecks, and address gaps in logistics infrastructure to facilitate seamless cargo movement and regional port efficiency. The following session highlighted the vast potential for cruise tourism in the BIMSTEC region, enriched by vibrant coastal ecosystems, rich cultural heritage, and diverse marine biodiversity. The platform focused on strategising future roadmaps for BIMSTEC port collaboration, synthesising insights from earlier sessions and outlining long-term frameworks for sustainable and efficient port development aligned with global standards and innovation goals. The final technical session of the day emphasised the importance of upskilling the maritime workforce, stressing public-private partnerships in maritime education, shipyard development, and port management to foster a competitive and future-ready talent pool. Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal visited Hindustan Shipyard Limited and later reviewed Dredging Corporation issues along with VPA chairperson M. Angamuthu.
&w=3840&q=100)
First Post
2 hours ago
- First Post
FirstUp: India's chief negotiator joins India-US trade talks in Washington, and other news today
India's Chief Negotiator and Special Secretary in the Department of Commerce, Rajesh Agarwal, will be in Washington today to participate in the ongoing India-US trade talks. A court hearing on the release of the case of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, who was mistakenly deported to El Salvador, will take place in Tennessee's Nashville read more It is set to be a busy Wednesday with several events lined up for the day. Firstly, India's Chief Negotiator and Special Secretary in the Department of Commerce, Rajesh Agarwal will be in Washington to participate in the India-US trade talks. Meanwhile, a court hearing on the release of Kilmar Abrego Garcia will take place in Nashville, Tennessee. Suriname, a South American country, will be witnessing history being created today with the inauguration of its first female president. Foreign ministers of Poland, Lithuania and Ukraine will meet today in Poland's Lubin, marking the fifth anniversary of the 'Lubin Triangle'. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Today marks the 60th anniversary of the inauguration of the Mont-Blanc tunnel. In India, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will lead a protest in Kolkata against the targeting of migrants. Here are some events set to take place across the world today. India-US trade talks to take place in Washington Rajesh Agrawal, India's chief negotiator and Special Secretary in the Department of Commerce, is set to join the Indian commerce ministry team in Washington, DC today. This visit is part of a crucial round of negotiations for the proposed bilateral trade agreement (BTA) between India and the United States. Rajesh Agrawal, India's chief negotiator and Special Secretary in the Department of Commerce. File image/PTI The Indian team has already commenced talks in Washington on Monday (July 14) and the discussions are scheduled to continue for four days, concluding on Thursday (July 17). Agrawal's arrival signifies the heightened importance and intensity of these ongoing negotiations. The visit assumes significance as both sides have to iron out issues in sectors like agriculture and automobiles. It is also important as the US has further postponed the imposition of additional tariffs on several countries, including India, until August 1. Hearing on the release of Kilmar Abrego Garcia An important hearing on the case relating to the release of Kilmar Abrego Garcia will take place in Tennessee's Nashville today. This hearing will address a request by federal prosecutors to revoke a previous order that granted him pretrial release, allowing him to remain in custody while he awaits trial on human smuggling charges. Abrego Garcia's case has garnered significant national attention. He was in March 2025 by the Trump administration, despite a 2019 US immigration judge's order shielding him from deportation due to fears of gang violence. After intense pressure, including a Supreme Court order, he was returned to the US last month to face the smuggling charges stemming from a 2022 traffic stop. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Inauguration of Suriname's first woman president Jennifer Geerlings-Simons is set to make history with her inauguration as Suriname's first woman president today in the capital city of Paramaribo. Geerlings-Simons' National Democratic Party (NDP) won 18 of the 51 seats in the National Assembly. A physician and veteran politician, Geerlings-Simons led the National Democratic Party (NDP) to a narrow victory in the May 2025 general election. Following the inconclusive results, she successfully hammered out a coalition agreement with five other parties, securing the necessary two-thirds supermajority (34 out of 51 seats) in parliament to ensure her election unopposed. Her vice president will be Gregory Rusland, leader of the National Party of Suriname (NPS). Foreign ministers meet of Poland, Lithuania and Ukraine The foreign ministers of Poland, Lithuania and Ukraine are set to meet in Lublin, Poland, today, marking the fifth anniversary of the 'Lublin Triangle,' a trilateral regional cooperation platform established in July 2020. The Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed the meeting, stating that the foreign ministers Radoslaw Sikorski of Poland, Kestutis Budrys of Lithuania and Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha will participate in the meeting. Sybiha will be standing in for Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, who has been attending other engagements. The agenda for the meeting will focus on strengthening political, economic, cultural, and social ties between the three nations, with a particular emphasis on coordinating efforts to counter Russian aggression and support Ukraine's Euro-Atlantic integration aspirations. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Inauguration of the Mont-Blanc tunnel's 60th anniversary The iconic Mont-Blanc Tunnel will mark its 60th anniversary, commemorating six decades since its official inauguration in 1965. The tunnel stretches 7.2 miles (11.6 kilometres) through the Alps and at the time of its inauguration was a marvellous genius that connected Chamonix in France with Courmayeur in Italy. The tunnel drastically shortened travel times between the two nations. An aerial view shows the French-side entrance to the Mont Blanc road tunnel which links France and Italy beneath the Alps. File image/Reuters Construction on the tunnel began in 1957, taking eight arduous years to complete under incredibly challenging conditions. Workers faced extreme cold, high altitudes, and the dangers of drilling through solid granite, often encountering unpredictable geological formations and water intrusions. The project symbolized European cooperation and ambition, as it was a joint venture between France and Italy. Mamata Banerjee to lead protest in Kolkata against targeting of migrants Responding to what the Trinamool Congress calls 'continued targeting' of migrants from West Bengal in BJP-governed states, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will lead a protest rally in Kolkata today. The rally is scheduled to begin at 1 pm from College Square and culminate at Dorina Crossing in central Kolkata. It is a strong assertion of ' Bengali pride" by the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC). The protest comes amidst a series of incidents where Bengali-speaking individuals have reportedly faced discrimination, detention and even deportation attempts, with allegations of being labelled as 'Bangladeshis.' With inputs from agencies
Time of India
3 hours ago
- Time of India
How Delhi Plans To Plug Water Leaks
New Delhi: With more than half of Delhi's water supply remaining unaccounted for, the govt has engaged a consultant to address the problem and significantly reduce the water loss rate, chief minister Rekha Gupta told Union home minister Amit Shah on Friday. Officials reported that a staggering 58% of water was wasted in transmission in the city, much higher than the national average of around 20%. In a meeting with Shah, Gupta said the consultant would not only identify the reasons behind such a high rate of water leakage but also suggest measures to strengthen the distribution network and improve infrastructure. This will ensure that the number of domestic water connections increases and the supply of potable water reaches every household through taps. According to Delhi Jal Board 's data, Delhi has a 15,600-kilometre water supply network, catering to 21.5 million consumers after treatment at nine treatment plants. A large amount of water is wasted due to 2,800km of the network being older than three decades. The network covers around 93.5% of the city, but the number of connections currently stands at only 2.9 million. You Can Also Check: Delhi AQI | Weather in Delhi | Bank Holidays in Delhi | Public Holidays in Delhi The chief minister informed Shah that the consultant would study DJB's three previous reports on reducing non-revenue water, prepared in 2003, 2011 and 2021, and come up with a strategy to strengthen the distribution network and draft consolidated schemes to increase water connections and improve the billing system. She added that a pilot to strengthen the distribution network had already started in northeast Delhi. Gupta added that DJB had also sought the help of the central govt to reduce the percentage of non-revenue water and systematically increase the number of connections and evaluate groundwater as a source to augment the supply of potable water. She said at least three meetings were held with the Union housing and urban affairs ministry and Central Public Health and Environmental Engineering Organisation for this purpose. Sources said Delhi govt had also decided to engage a project management unit for effective monitoring of various big-ticket projects to augment water and sewage treatment capacity. A request for proposal to engage a project management unit is likely to be floated within a few weeks, Gupta informed Shah. DJB has also started a drive to fill up a large number of posts of engineers and officers, the home minister was informed. While the process to engage junior engineers through Graduate Aptitude Test for Engineers has started, retired engineers will also be hired on a contractual basis for senior positions, CM said. DJB has engaged National Productivity Council for the restructuring of its manpower. Gupta said sewage treatment plants were upgraded in Rohini, Narela, Coronation Pillar and Keshopur phases II and III and the govt made necessary changes to ensure the upgradation of the Chandrawal and Waziarabad plants. The Chandrawal WTP was stuck due to non-felling of trees.
