High contamination levels in Indian cotton raise concerns

Concerns have been raised about contamination in Indian cotton, which is affecting textile quality. The Andhra Pradesh government has introduced a new bill called the "Prevention of Contamination of Textile, 2024." This bill aims to improve cotton quality and meet international standards. The issue was discussed at the Annual Group Meeting 2025 that began on Friday in Guntur. S.K. Shukla from the ICAR-Central Institute of Cotton Research praised the state for this initiative. During the meeting, Sharada Jaya Lakshmi Devi, Vice-Chancellor of Acharya N.G. Ranga Agricultural University (ANGRAU), spoke about the benefits of Bt cotton. This cotton has helped reduce the use of pesticides by controlling pests effectively, leading to better yields for farmers. She also mentioned the success of a specific cotton variety called 'Narasimha,' which has increased profits for farmers in Andhra Pradesh. India's cotton imports are currently over 3 million bales each year. P.V. Satyanarayana from ANGRAU pointed out the urgent need to reduce this reliance on imported cotton. Additionally, C.D. Mayee, chairman of the project monitoring committee, expressed concerns about the pink bollworm, which poses challenges to cotton cultivation. The ongoing event will discuss strategies to boost cotton production and quality in India over the next two days.