AP seeks mega projects

Metro India News | AMARAVATI

The Andhra Pradesh Government submitted proposals to the centre for the establishment of a NIFT campus in Amaravati and a PM MITRA Park in Chittoor district. Naidu, CM, met Union Textiles Minister Giriraj Singh on Friday. The State aims to create additional income opportunities for farmers through fibre-producing horticultural crops.

The CM cited Kuppam’s proximity to textile clusters in Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, as well as the presence of 35,000 power looms and over 100 spinning mills, while pitching for the PM MITRA Park. He also sought the release of Rs 280 crore for establishing a NIFT campus in Amaravati, informing the union minister that 10 acres of land had already been allocated for the institute.

Further, Naidu requested Integrated Wet Processing Parks in textile clusters, recognition of Andhra Pradesh as a priority state under the National New Age Fibre Mission, a handloom park in Mangalagiri, and a Handloom and Handicrafts Museum in Amaravati.

Andhra Pradesh has strong potential to produce natural fibres from horticultural crops and sought support for developing fibre-based industries in the state.Naidu urged the Centre to promote commercial utilisation of fibre, coir and other natural fibres obtained from crops cultivated in the Rayalaseema and Coastal Andhra regions.

Upbeat on banana stem fibre extraction centres

The CM urged the Centre for help to establish banana stem fibre extraction centres in major banana-growing districts, including Kadapa, Anantapur, Nandyal, West Godavari, Krishna and East Godavari, as well as promoting cluster-based mechanical decorticator units through Self-Help Groups (SHGs).According to Naidu, banana is cultivated across nearly 1.3 lakh hectares in Andhra Pradesh, and fibre extracted from post-harvest stems can be used in textiles, handicrafts, geotextiles, speciality paper and export-quality garments.The CM proposed establishing bamboo fibre-processing units under Public-Private Partnership (PPP) models, saying such projects could provide long-term income to tribal and upland farmers.

Naidu highlighted the potential of areca sheath-based products to support cottage and small-scale industries producing eco-friendly packaging, floor mats and composite boards. He also sought support for mechanised husk-processing units and coir geotextile industries in coastal Andhra Pradesh, noting that coconut is cultivated on over 1.1 lakh hectares and that coir geotextiles could help prevent soil erosion along the state’s 1,000-km coastline. Assuring full support, Union Minister Giriraj Singh said efforts would be made to develop Andhra Pradesh into a major textile hub, boost cotton productivity, strengthen the handloom sector and promote emerging segments such as glass fibre, carbon fibre and graphene.