COIMBATORE: With instances of cotton contamination becoming rampant in Gujarat, textile units in the State have decided to procure raw materials from Telangana and Maharashtra. The Indian Texpreneurs Federation (ITF) organised an interactive session with ginners from Telangana and Maharashtra here on Saturday.
“There are over 1,200 spinning mills across Tamil Nadu. Yearly, 1.1 crore bales (one bale weighs 170 kg) of cotton are purchased. Cotton, being the primary raw material, yearly 60 per cent to 70 per cent expenditure is made on its purchase. Quality is paramount in ensuring reliable finished product. Earlier, Gujarat was the most favoured destination for raw materials, but reports of contamination and malpractices have made the industrialists here upset,” said ITF secretary D Prabhu.
Given the situation, Maharashtra, Telangana and Karnataka are chipping in to meet the shortfall, he said, adding that of the 400-odd mills attached to the federation, 35 have joined together to start an initiative to purchase cotton from them.
Last year, two lakh bales were purchased from the three states. “This year, we intend to increase the number of mills and the quantum of purchase,” he said.
‘South has potential’
ITF secretary D Prabhu said Telangana produces 70 lakh bales a year. Maharashtra produces 80-100 lakh, Karnataka 20 lakh and TN produces five lakh bales annually. Cotton availability in the southern region is sufficient, he said