Maharashtra govt plans textile hub in Vidarbha to benefit cotton farmers

Maharashtra government to open up new market opportunities with higher remuneration for cotton farmers has worked out an integrated model of textile and agro industries in Vidarbha and Marathwada, said Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Saturday performing the bhoomipujan for the units of J K Investors Ltd and Raymond Group of Companies at Nandgaon Peth in Amravati.

The state government’s policy to promote the textile sector has started yielding results, it has also tapped Rs 4,000 crore investments with employment generation of 12,500 in the cotton distressed districts of Vidarbha, carried out major amendments in the textile policy for increasing ease of doing business.

The textile sector is the second largest when it comes to employment. Cotton cultivation stretches to 42 percent of the agro-land. Tax concession on yarns, cotton processing units, interest subsidy upto ten percent are part of the national “Farm to Fashion” policy to promote the textile sector.

Major policy decisions to promote the sector includes 30 percent subsidy for self financing. The government has stressed single-window clearance to provide land along with basic infrastructure. Concessions in power tariff are an added attraction for investors.

The state government had signed an MoU with Raymond Group of Companies for a textile park and manufacturing hub worth Rs 1,400 crore, during the Make In India Week in February in presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Amravati as the leading textile destination of the country will become a reality in the next four years. As, in less than two months, all formalities have been completed paving the way for the mega-textile hub to start work.

Overwhelming response have been received from investors seeking land for setting up textile units in Vidarbha. Now, this is a major change from the past when developed land along with infrastructure at MIDC had no takers. Today, there is no space available at MIDC in this region.

The 14 textile parks, complete with manufacturing and apparel units in Vidarbha and Marathwada, have been taken up to provide a robust market for cotton cultivators. The chief minister recalled, the white gold tag associated with cotton cash crop has lost its shine because of the agro-distress in the last two decades. The textile policies linked to agro-industries will help take cotton crop to its old glory.

Cotton cultivators, often with small land holdings can thrive only if they have an assured market. The government wants to adopt the western Maharashtra model where sugar mills and sugar cane cultivators are inter-linked and inter-dependent.

The state government has allocated 102 hectares to Messrs Shyam Indofab Ltd, MVHM Industries, Suryalaxmi Mills, Siyaram Silk for textile and processing units at Nandgaon.

The government to ensure better production of cotton to help farmers and efficient operations for the manufacturing sector has also decided to promote textile technology in the sector.

The chief minister, while inaugurating the Siyaram Silk Mills Golden Fibres Plant, marking commencement of operational activities, hoped it would work to the advantage of youths.

The new textile hubs sanctioned in MIDC includes Nandgaon (Amravati), Yavatmal, Chikali (Buldhana), Jamner (Jalgaon), Kannad (Aurangabad), Selu (Parbhani), Bhaler (Nandurbar), Malegaon (Nashik), Kunnor (Nanded), Mazalgaon (Beed), Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation new textile park.