Smaller textile mills in Tamil Nadu demand raw material security

For the smaller textile mills in Tamil Nadu, availability of raw material at reasonable prices is key for economic viability, said R. Arunkarthik, president of the South India Spinners Association.

Mr. Arunkarthik told The Hindu on the sidelines of the Association’s annual meeting on Tuesday that volatility in raw material prices is one of the main reasons for the textile mills going sick. The Union government should remove the import duty on cotton permanently so that Indian cotton prices drop. The Tamil Nadu government should support and encourage cotton cultivation in Tamil Nadu by extending financial support to farmers for automation and purchase of quality seeds.