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Punjab farmers drape pesticide-repellent fabrics

Scientists from the Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) have developed a special pesticide-repellent fabric. This innovation comes in light of the heavy use of pesticides in farmlands by farmers and workers toiling in the fields, which has given rise to many skin-related diseases. These diseases are a result of the absorption of pesticides through the skin.

The base material of this pesticide-repellent fabric comprises a blend of cotton and polyester -- a fabric popular among the working class in Punjab. This new fabric is expected to reduce occupational hazards amongst farmers by over 90 per cent. The farmers in Punjab have been supplied clothing made of this fabric at subsidized rates.

A growth-oriented move

The textile industry in India has been given a facelift by the government with plans to bring in Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in the textile multi-brand retail market. The government has now sought the opinion of domestic and foreign stakeholders. At present, foreign retailers are allowed only 51 per cent equity in retail operations for single-brand stores, while major brands rely on franchisees to market their products.

In 2008-09, the consumer spend in textile and footwear segments registered a growth of 67 per cent and was pegged at Rs 2, 133.4 billion ($45.7billion). The retail market accounts for only five per cent of the market share. In a country of 1.2 billion people, this promises remarkable returns to overseas retailers. The administration plans to implement FDI in a phased manner in order to safeguard the interests of small, family-managed outlets. Sources from the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion say that apart from improving the domestic supply chain, the biggest beneficiaries from this move would be the consumer.

Piranhas on the prowl

China, along with small players like Indonesia, Vietnam, and Bangladesh are eating into India's market share of textile exports to the US and EU. China's liberal economic policies and low production costs are the major facilitators for this edge.

Although in 2009, India's share increased by 0.17 per cent in the US market, it fell by 15.7 per cent in the EU. India's textile exports in 2009-10 were valued at $20 billion, accounting for 60 per cent of the total exports.

Government irks textile companies

The government has thrown a spanner into the modernisation plans of the textile industry by suspending the subsidy for new products under the Technology Upgradation Fund (TUF) scheme. The office of the textiles commissioner, in its circular dated June 30, asked nodal agencies/ banks not to issue new sanctions till additional funds are approved by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA).

"We are shifting from producing cotton-based garments to man-made fibre garments. We need to purchase warp-knitting machinery and new technologies for processing, which require huge investment. If the TUF scheme is terminated, it will be a problem for us," said A Sakthivel, the President of the Tirupur Exporters' Association.

Industry analysts supports this view as they feel that the TUF is necessary to enhance spinning, processing, weaving, and garmenting capacities, in order to utilise the surplus cotton available in India. This move comes at a time when the industry had shelved all expansion plans for technological up-gradation.

The Confederation of Textile Industry (CITI) Secretary-General, D K Nair said, "The government should reconsider the suspension of TUF to ensure that new projects are resumed quickly, as any uncertainty will create confusion in the industry."

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