INITIATIVE TO PROMOTE AGRO-TEXTILE TO ENHANCE AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTIVITY

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Press Information Bureau
Government of India
Ministry of Textiles
05 DEC 2025 6:00PM by PIB Delhi

With a view to boost Technical Textiles sector in the country including agro-textiles, Ministry of Textiles launched National Technical Textiles Mission (NTTM) in the year 2020. Under the Mission, 14 Research Projects pertaining to agro-textiles have been approved (Details are given below). Further, a Climate-Smart Agro-Textile Demonstration Centre has been established at Navsari, Gujarat at a total cost of Rs. 3.73 crore in December 2024 to promote innovative and sustainable agro-textile applications for the agriculture sector through live demonstrations, training for farmers, and awareness programmes to enhance productivity, reduce costs, improve climate resilience, and encourage sustainable practices. The Demo Centre is being operated by the Synthetic & Art Silk Mills’ Research Association (SASMIRA). A total of 576 farmers have been trained in the Centre so far.

National Technical Textiles Mission is a Pan-India initiative to promote technical textiles in the country. The Mission has strategic focus on agro-textiles, recognizing its vital role in enhancing agricultural sustainability and productivity. The interventions under NTTM focus on Research & Innovation, Market Development, Export Promotion and Skilling.

List of Research & Development Projects approved for Agro-textiles under NTTM

S. No.	Project Title	Implementing Institute
1	Insecticide incorporated Agronets: Green Technology to minimize the insecticide burden to biosphere	Defence Research Laboratory (DRL), DRDO, Assam
2	Development of long lasting and biodegradable electrospun/ needle punch nonwoven composite mulch using natural fibrous wastes.	IIT Delhi
3	Evaluation of natural fibre based agro-textile products in protected eco-friendly structures for production of high value horticultural crops	IIT Kharagpur
4	Functional textiles for tackling organophosphate insecticides, pesticides and nerve agents' toxicity	IIT-Indore
5	Use of Jute Agro Textiles as prospective mulching material to test the suitability of mango based intercropping systems towards increasing crop productivity and promotion of livelihood security for the backward farming community Red and Lateritic Zones of West Bengal	Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswa Vidyalaya, West Bengal
6	Sustainable use of unconventional fibres of Indian Himalayas for Agro textiles	CSK Himachal Pradesh Agricultural University, Palampur
7	Development of natural herbal extract coated seed protection bag using natural fiber with long lasting mechanical and insecticidal properties	South Indian Research Association (SITRA), Coimbatore
8	Development of Crop cover, mulch, soil protection fabrics and other products using Sun hemp and Banana Fibre	Northern India Textile Research Association (NITRA), Ghaziabad
9	Development of Energy Responsive Agrotextile for low cost opportunities to grow off-season vegetable/fruits	Synthetic & Art Silk Mills’ Research Association (SASMIRA), Mumbai
10	Development of eco-friendly natural fibres based sustainable agro-textiles for packaging of agro products with protection against rodents, microorganisms including bacteria, fungi and viruses and UV repellent properties	Wool Research Association (WRA), Mumbai
11	Development of jute bags for protection and quality preservation of stored seeds	Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)-Kolkata
12	Natural fibre waste to planting growth media: development characterization and evaluation in soilless crop production system	Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)-Kolkata
13	Development of Tunable Agro textile with Smart Functionalities For Enhanced Crops Production	Council Of Scientific And Industrial Research–Central Leather Research Institute (CSIR–CLRI), Chennai
14	Development of foam-in-place packaging using agricultural residue	IIT Kanpur

This information was provided by THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR TEXTILES SHRI PABITRA MARGHERITA in a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha today.

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MAM

(Rajya Sabha US Q794)