Parliament Question: Promotion of Agro Textiles

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 367 TO BE ANSWERED ON 02.12.2025 PROMOTION OF AGRO TEXTILES 367. SMT. MALA RAJYA LAXMI SHAH: SHRI NALIN SOREN: SHRI VIJAY KUMAR DUBEY: Will the Minister of TEXTILES वस्त्र मंत्री be pleased to state : (a) whether the Government has taken any initiatives to promote the use of agro-textiles for agricultural productivity and farmer welfare and if so, the details thereof State-wise including Dumka District in Jharkhand and Uttarakhand; (b) the number of Smart Agro-Textile Centres established along with their objectives, cost, and the current operational status of these centres, State-wise including Jharkhand and Uttarakhand; (c) the total number of farmers trained or benefited through these centres and programmes State-wise including Jharkhand and Uttaranchal; and (d) where the Government to expand agro-textile interventions to more regions and integrate them with rural livelihood schemes in the State of Jharkhand and Uttarakhand and if so, the details thereof? उत्तर ANSWER वस्त्र राज् य मंत्री (श्री पबित्र मार्घरे रटा) THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR TEXTILES (SHRI PABITRA MARGHERITA) (a) to (c): With a view to boost Technical Textiles sector in the country including agro-textiles, Ministry of Textiles launched National Technical Textiles Mission (NTTM) in the year 2020. Under the Mission, 14 Research Projects pertaining to agro-textiles have been approved (Details given in Annexure-I). Further, a Climate-Smart Agro-Textile Demonstration Centre has been established at Navsari, Gujarat at a total cost of Rs. 3.73 crore in December 2024 to promote innovative and sustainable agro-textile applications for the agriculture sector through live demonstrations, training for farmers, and awareness programmes to enhance productivity, reduce costs, improve climate resilience, and encourage sustainable practices. The Demo Centre is being operated by the Synthetic & Art Silk Mills’ Research Association (SASMIRA). A total of 576 farmers have been trained in the Center so far. (d): National Technical Textiles Mission is a Pan-India initiative to promote technical textiles in the country. The Mission has strategic focus on agro-textiles, recognizing its vital role in enhancing agricultural sustainability and productivity. The interventions under NTTM focus on Research & Innovation, Market Development, Export Promotion and Skilling.Annexure I List of Research & Development Projects approved for Agro textiles under NTTM S. Project Title Implementing Institute No. Defence Research Insecticide incorporated Agronets: Green Technology 1 Laboratory (DRL), DRDO, to minimize the insecticide burden to biosphere Assam Development of long lasting and biodegradable 2 electrospun/ needle punch nonwoven composite mulch IIT Delhi using natural fibrous wastes. Evaluation of natural fibre based agro-textile products 3 in protected eco-friendly structures for production of IIT Kharagpur high value horticultural crops Functional textiles for tackling organophosphate 4 IIT-Indore insecticides, pesticides and nerve agents' toxicity Use of Jute Agro Textiles as prospective mulching material to test the suitability of mango based Bidhan Chandra Krishi intercropping systems towards increasing crop 5 Viswa Vidyalaya, West productivity and promotion of livelihood security for Bengal the backward farming community Red and Lateritic Zones of West Bengal CSK Himachal Pradesh Sustainable use of unconventional fibres of Indian 6 Agricultural University, Himalayas for Agro textiles Palampur Development of natural herbal extract coated seed South Indian Research 7 protection bag using natural fiber with long lasting Association mechanical and insecticidal properties (SITRA), Coimbatore Development of Crop cover, mulch, soil protection Northern India Textile 8 fabrics and other products using Sun hemp and Research Association Banana Fibre (NITRA), Ghaziabad Development of Energy Responsive Agrotextile for Synthetic & Art Silk Mills’ 9 low cost opportunities to grow off-season Research Association vegetable/fruits (SASMIRA), Mumbai Development of eco-friendly natural fibres based sustainable agro-textiles for packaging of agro Wool Research Association 10 products with protection against rodents, (WRA), Mumbai microorganisms including bacteria, fungi and viruses and UV repellent properties Indian Council of Development of jute bags for protection and quality 11 Agricultural Research preservation of stored seeds (ICAR)-Kolkata Natural fibre waste to planting growth media: Indian Council of 12 development characterization and evaluation in Agricultural Research soilless crop production system (ICAR)-Kolkata Council Of Scientific And Development of Tunable Agro textile with Smart Industrial Research–Central 13 Functionalities For Enhanced Crops Production Leather Research Institute (CSIR–CLRI), Chennai Development of foam-in-place packaging using 14 IIT Kanpur agricultural residue ****