Union Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan chairs Productive Meeting on Cotton

Coimbatore:11/7/25 A significant meeting aimed at boosting cotton productivity was convened today at the ICAR–Sugarcane Breeding Institute in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, under the leadership of Union Minister for Agriculture, Farmers’ Welfare, and Rural Development, Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan.

The meeting saw in-depth discussions on the history of cotton, the current scenario, challenges, and future strategies for increasing cotton productivity in India. Also present on the occasion were Union Minister of Textiles Shri Giriraj Singh, Haryana Agriculture Minister Shri Shyam Singh Rana, Maharashtra Agriculture Minister Shri Manikrao Kokate, Vice Chancellors of agricultural universities from various states, ICAR Director General Dr ML Jat, officials, stakeholders, scientists, and farmers.

Before the meeting, the Union Agriculture Minister visited cotton fields, interacted with farmers, and listened to their issues and concerns. The formal meeting began with Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan’s address, where he emphasised that the meet was being held on the sacred land of Tamil Nadu — one of India’s most ancient states, with the Tamil language having a 5,000-year-old heritage. He noted that a new cotton revolution is finding its roots and taking shape on the soil of Tamil Nadu, reiterating that the meeting today was much more than a mere formality

Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan stressed that after food, clothing is the most essential need for a person. “Just as one cannot live without food, it is equally impossible to live without clothing. Clothes come from cotton, and cotton is produced by our farmers. Agriculture is the backbone of the Indian economy, and farmers are its soul. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, the government is fully committed to farmers’ welfare,” he said.

Shri Chouhan also noted that while the textile industry often demands the removal of import duties to allow cheap foreign cotton, farmers argue that this hampers local cotton prices. Hence, the government must balance the interests of both farmers and the industryReflecting on his ‘Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan’, Shri Chouhan mentioned that he had previously held a major meeting on soybeans in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, and today’s in-depth meeting in Coimbatore on cotton continues that same consultative process, focused on crop-wise and state-wise strategies for agricultural development..