The Cotton Textile Export Promotion Council (Texprocil) will focus on increasing the volume of cotton qualifying for the Kasturi Cotton Bharat brand over the next two years, according to its newly elected chairman, Ravi Sam. Currently, less than 50% of the cotton submitted for branding meets the mandatory specifications and testing requirements.
Sam said improving compliance with quality standards and increasing recognition of Kasturi Cotton Bharat among international retail brands would be key priorities. The branding programme offers traceability, which could encourage greater adoption in overseas markets.
He also stressed the need to ensure that farmers receive a fair share of the premium earned by ginners and other players in the textile value chain from Kasturi cotton.
Since farmers play an important role in reducing trash content and improving fibre quality, they should also benefit financially from the branding initiative.
Sam called on the government to curb the availability of spurious cotton seeds and reduce the number of approved seed varieties to help farmers make informed choices about cultivation.
On free trade agreements (FTAs), Sam said Indian garment exporters had faced limited access to the UK and European markets for nearly two decades because of duties on Indian goods. With India signing FTAs, he urged the industry to make greater use of the benefits available under these agreements.
He added that the Confederation of Indian Industry’s Southern Region had begun conducting handholding sessions to help exporters understand and use FTAs. Supporting exporters in accessing these benefits will be another area of focus for Texprocil.
