The NCC, proposed by the Union Ministry of Textiles, will engage in monitoring, coordinating and creating a unified platform for development of the cotton fibre. The institution could provide funding and direction for research in a holistic manner, the policy said recommending increasing area of cotton irrigation from current 38 per cent at the national level to 60 per cent.
Suggesting that textile industry be kept out of GST ambit for at least two years, to improve competitiveness of Indian man-made fibres and textiles industry, it has batted for a fibre neutral excise policy with all textiles and fibres attracting same excise duty of 4 per cent optional. Besides new farming practices to increase cotton yield, it has also proposed public-private partnership projects for transfer of technology inputs and marketing tie-ups to minimise diversion of cotton area to other competing crops.
The policy also wants farmers field school, engaged in transfer of knowledge to farmers, be taken up in each gram panchayat of cotton growing area. Also sufficient number of cotton masters trainer generated to ensure availability of one cotton master trainer at each block level. Furthermore, it has also called for creation of competing crops pricing index to ensure judicious allocation of resources in crop patterns. Among other tax incentives, it has recommended removal of 4 per cent special additional duty on man-made fibres to make them available to domestic consumers at competitive prices.
The policy also advocates adopting Focus Fibre Focus State approach for the promotion of five natural fibres — banana, pineapple, flax, sisal and hemp/nettle. A Technology Mission on Speciality Cotton with a fund outlay for five year period is among other initiatives proposed.