Lok Sabha Question No. 367 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-12-02
Subject: Promotion of Agro Textiles
Ministry: TEXTILES
Asked by: Shri Nalin Soren, Smt. Mala Rajya Laxmi Shah, Shri Vijay Kumar Dubey

## 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 मार्घेररटा )

## 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. No. | Project Title                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               | Implementing Institute                                                                                |
|----------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|        1 | Insecticide incorporated Agronets: Green Technology to minimize the insecticide burden to biosphere                                                                                                                                                                         | Defence Research Laboratory (DRL), DRDO, Assam                                                        |
|        2 | Development of long lasting and biodegradable electrospun/ needle punch nonwoven composite mulch using natural fibrous wastes.                                                                                                                                              | IIT Delhi                                                                                             |
|        3 | Evaluation of natural fibre based agro-textile products in protected eco-friendly structures for production of high value horticultural crops                                                                                                                               | IIT Kharagpur                                                                                         |
|        4 | Functional textiles for tackling organophosphate insecticides, pesticides and nerve agents' toxicity                                                                                                                                                                        | IIT-Indore                                                                                            |
|        5 | Use of Jute Agro Textiles as prospective mulching material to test the suitability of mango based intercropping systems towards increasing crop productivity and promotion of livelihood security for the backward farming community Red and Lateritic Zones of West Bengal | Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswa Vidyalaya, West Bengal                                                    |
|        6 | Sustainable use of unconventional fibres of Indian Himalayas for Agro textiles                                                                                                                                                                                              | CSK Himachal Pradesh Agricultural University, Palampur                                                |
|        7 | Development of natural herbal extract coated seed protection bag using natural fiber with long lasting mechanical and insecticidal properties                                                                                                                               | South Indian Research Association (SITRA), Coimbatore                                                 |
|        8 | Development of Crop cover, mulch, soil protection fabrics and other products using Sun hemp and Banana Fibre                                                                                                                                                                | Northern India Textile Research Association (NITRA), Ghaziabad                                        |
|        9 | Development of Energy Responsive Agrotextile for low cost opportunities to grow off-season vegetable/fruits                                                                                                                                                                 | Synthetic & Art Silk Mills' Research Association (SASMIRA), Mumbai                                    |
|       10 | Development of eco-friendly natural fibres based sustainable agro-textiles for packaging of agro products with protection against rodents, microorganisms including bacteria, fungi and viruses and UV repellent properties                                                 | Wool Research Association (WRA), Mumbai                                                               |
|       11 | Development of jute bags for protection and quality preservation of stored seeds                                                                                                                                                                                            | Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)-Kolkata                                                |
|       12 | Natural fibre waste to planting growth media: development characterization and evaluation in soilless crop production system                                                                                                                                                | Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)-Kolkata                                                |
|       13 | Development of Tunable Agro textile with Smart Functionalities For Enhanced Crops Production                                                                                                                                                                                | Council Of Scientific And Industrial Research-Central Leather Research Institute (CSIR-CLRI), Chennai |
|       14 | Development of foam-in-place packaging using agricultural residue                                                                                                                                                                                                           | IIT Kanpur                                                                                            |