2 days ago
Textile mills urged to use Kasturi cotton
More number of spinning mills should use Kasturi cotton, said Siddhartha Rajagopal, Executive Director of the Cotton Textiles Export Promotion Council (Texprocil).
Mr. Rajagopal told The Hindu on Friday that the government is targeting 10% of Indian cotton production to be tested and certified as Kasturi cotton in five years. It will also support this through the mini mission on cotton. In the 2024-2025 cotton season, 1.12 lakh bales of cotton will be certified as Kasturi cotton. Of this, majority is with the Cotton Corporation of India.
The Texprocil is talking to international brands to use Kasturi cotton as it has traceability and quality assurance. Some of the textile manufacturers in India have made shirts and towels using Kasturi cotton. 'It is recognised as a pivot for quality cotton,' he said. The brand commands a premium and there are standards for extra long staple cotton too. Textile mills that have cotton can go for testing and certification if they have details of the ginners and farmers from whom the cotton was sourced.
At a meeting organised by the Texprocil for members of the textile associations here, chairman of the Southern India Mills' Association S.K. Sundararaman said the usage by the textile mills will increase when they see demonstration of value for the cotton.
Nishant Asher, secretary of the Indian Cotton Federation, said the pull should come from the garment and made up brands.
The participants also suggested improvement of best practices by farmers so that the traceability starts from the farmers and reduction in short fibres in the cotton to be certified as Kasturi.
