Andhra Pradesh’s cotton contamination concerns highlighted at AGM 2025

Concerns over high contamination levels in Indian cotton and their impact on textile quality were discussed at the Annual Group Meeting (AGM) 2025 on ‘Cotton: Shaping the Future of Cotton Cultivation in India,’  held at the Regional Agricultural Research Station (RARS) in Lam, Guntur. Experts lauded the state government’s initiative to introduce the ‘Prevention of Contamination of Textile, 2024’ Bill.

S K Shukla from ICAR-Central Institute of Cotton Research (ICAR-CICR), Mumbai, said the bill would improve cotton quality and help meet international standards. Acharya N G Ranga Agricultural University (ANGRAU) Vice-Chancellor Sharada Jaya Lakshmi Devi highlighted the role of Bt cotton in reducing pesticide use and increasing yields. She also noted the success of the ‘Narasimha’ cotton variety, which has significantly boosted farmers earnings in Andhra Pradesh.

India’s annual cotton imports exceed 3 million bales, and ANGRAU’s director of research, P V Satyanarayana, stressed the urgent need to reduce dependence on imported cotton. Chairman of the project monitoring and advisory committee on cotton, C D Mayee, warned about the resurgence of pink bollworm. The three-day event, organized by ICAR-CICR in collaboration with ANGRAU, focuses on strategies to enhance cotton production and quality in India.