Vijayawada: Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has urged the central government to support the establishment of the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) in Amaravati and promote fibre-based industries linked to horticulture crops in Andhra Pradesh. Union Textiles Minister Giriraj Singh met the Chief Minister at the Secretariat on Friday for discussions.
Potential for Value-Added Fibre Products
Naidu highlighted the vast potential for generating additional income for farmers through value-added fibre products derived from banana, coconut, bamboo, and other horticulture crops. The Chief Minister submitted detailed proposals for fibre extraction and textile-linked processing industries across the state.
Banana Fibre Extraction Units
Naidu sought support for setting up banana fibre extraction units in major banana-growing districts, including Kadapa, Anantapur, Nandyal, West Godavari, Krishna, and East Godavari. He noted that the state has banana cultivation on over 1.29 lakh hectares, and fibre extracted from post-harvest banana stems could be used for eco-friendly textiles, handicrafts, geo-textiles, and export-quality garments.
Bamboo and Coir Processing
He also proposed mechanical bamboo fibre processing units through the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) mode to generate sustained income for tribal farmers. Additionally, Naidu sought support for coir-based industries in coastal districts. He emphasized that value-added coir products such as geo-rolls and needle-felt could fetch three to four times higher returns than raw fibre exports.
PM MITRA Park and NIFT Campus
The Chief Minister further requested the establishment of a PM MITRA Park at Kuppam and the release of Rs 280 crore for the NIFT campus in Amaravati, for which 10 acres have already been allotted. Union Minister Giriraj Singh assured full cooperation from the Union Textiles Ministry for the state's proposals.
