Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has sought the establishment of a National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) campus in Amaravati and a PM Mega Integrated Textile Region and Apparel (PM MITRA) Park in Chittoor district, as part of a broader push to strengthen the state’s textile ecosystem and create additional income opportunities for farmers.
During a meeting with Union Textiles Minister Giriraj Singh at the Andhra Pradesh Secretariat, Naidu submitted a series of proposals aimed at boosting textile manufacturing, handloom development and fibre-based industries across the state.
According to a statement issued by the Chief Minister’s Office, Naidu requested the Centre to establish a NIFT campus in Amaravati and a PM MITRA Park in Kuppam, citing the region’s strategic location near textile clusters in Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. He highlighted the presence of around 35,000 power looms and more than 100 spinning mills in the area as key advantages supporting the proposal.
The Chief Minister also sought the release of Rs. 280 crore (US $29.47 million) for the NIFT campus, noting that the state government had already allocated 10 acres of land for the project.
In addition, Naidu proposed the development of Integrated Wet Processing Parks in textile clusters, priority-state recognition for Andhra Pradesh under the National New Age Fibre Mission, a dedicated handloom park in Mangalagiri and a Handloom and Handicrafts Museum in Amaravati.
Emphasising the state’s potential in natural fibre production, Naidu urged the Centre to support fibre-based industries linked to horticultural crops. He advocated the commercial utilisation of fibre, coir and other natural fibres sourced from crops grown in the Rayalaseema and Coastal Andhra regions.
Among the proposals submitted were plans for banana stem fibre extraction centres in major banana-growing districts, including Kadapa, Anantapur, Nandyal, West Godavari, Krishna and East Godavari. He also sought support for cluster-based mechanical decorticator units operated through Self-Help Groups (SHGs).
Naidu noted that banana cultivation covers nearly 1.3 lakh hectares in Andhra Pradesh and said fibre extracted from post-harvest stems could be utilised in textiles, handicrafts, geotextiles, speciality paper and export-oriented garments.
The Chief Minister further proposed the establishment of bamboo fibre-processing units under public-private partnership models, arguing that such projects could generate sustainable income opportunities for tribal and upland farming communities.
Responding to the proposals, Singh assured the state government of the Centre’s cooperation in advancing the initiatives. The Union Textiles Minister said efforts would be made to develop Andhra Pradesh into a major textile manufacturing hub.
