Gujarat eyes 90% modernisation of ginning units

Even as the state achieved around 56 per cent modernisation of ginning and pressing (G&P) units under Ministry of Textiles' Technology Mission on Cotton (TMC), Gujarat is eyeing over 90 per cent of units to be modernised.

Taking the efforts of modernising ginning units for making quality cotton available beyond TMC, the state government is banking on its own textile policy as well as the Technology Upgradation Fund Scheme (TUFS).

According to a senior state government official, there are currently around 1200 ginning and pressing units in Gujarat.

"The state achieved over 50 per cent in implementation of modernisation of ginning and pressing units which was highest among other states. However, we are aiming at over 90 per cent of modernisation of the units in near future," the official said on condition of anonymity. About Rs 300-400 crore worth investment is anticipated as part of the G&P units' modernisation.

What's more, the state government is expecting to see another 200 new modernised units to be added to the kitty in next 3-4 years, in the wake of the state's textile policy.

Apparently, the textile policy is offering investment incentive over and above the one available under TUFS.

It needs to be mentioned here that, under TMC, the target of modernisation was around 1000 G&P units across the country, wherein following Gujarat, only Maharashtra was closer at 28 per cent even as penetration of the scheme among other states was found to be low.

The Ministry of Textiles had been pushing for modernisation of G&P units in order to make quality cotton available to the country's textile industry.