Gadkari calls for boosting cotton output at Nagpur Cotton Summit

Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari made an important appeal on the cotton sector while inaugurating the Indian Cotton Summit 2026 in Nagpur. The summit was organised by the Vidarbha Cotton Association. Gadkari said the cotton sector has the potential to generate large-scale employment and that its development could give a major boost to the Vidarbha economy. He said emphasis should therefore be placed on increasing the productivity and quality of cotton.

The event was inaugurated in the presence of Gadkari, Union Textiles Minister Giriraj Singh and state Textiles Minister Sanjay Savkare. Gadkari said many people have migrated to cities because villages lack adequate employment opportunities. He said the lack of jobs, roads, water, schools and other basic facilities in villages forces people to move to cities. He noted that it is therefore very necessary to promote allied and agro-based industries in rural areas.

Gadkari pointed out that although Vidarbha is an important cotton-producing region, it faces a serious problem of farmer suicides. He said increasing cotton productivity is therefore extremely important. He also appealed to people in the ginning and pressing industry to guide farmers and help them increase production. Gadkari said quality production is necessary to make Indian cotton more competitive in domestic and international markets. Cotton-growing farmers and sponsors were felicitated at the event.

State Textiles Minister Sanjay Savkare expressed concern about the condition of cotton and soybean crops. He said the quality of cotton in Vidarbha is good and that efforts should be made to resolve farmers' problems. Savkare also said Maharashtra's textile policy is among the best in the country and that the state's textile sector is continuously making progress.

Union Textiles Minister Giriraj Singh said there is a need to build a system for cotton and the textile industry that accounts for every link in the chain, from farmers to garments. He said technology is changing rapidly and its benefits should reach the entire value chain, from farmers to producers.

Gadkari called for drawing up a long-term vision for the cotton sector. MLA Charan Singh Thakur, Association for Industrial Development president Ashish Kale and Cotton Association of India president Vinay Kotak were among the many dignitaries from the cotton and textile sector who attended the event, along with Minister of State Pankaj Bhoyar, Cotton Corporation of India Chairman and Managing Director Lalit Kumar Gupta, and Maharashtra Cotton Ginners Association president Bhupendra Singh Chawla.

Vidarbha Cotton Association president Bhavesh Shah delivered the presidential address, speaking about the various challenges facing the cotton sector and the need to strengthen the entire value chain from farmers to the textile industry. A souvenir was also released at the event.