Bathinda, April 14 The Punjab government has ambitious plans to turn the state into a cotton hub with state-of-the-art technology for commercial designing, manufacturing and finishing of cotton goods.Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal announced here Saturday that Punjab would convert into the cotton capital of India 'within a definite timeframe'.The Malwa belt of the state - comprising districts like Bathinda, Mansa, Ferozepore and others - are known for their cotton production. The cotton output of this belt has been good in the last 2-3 years.'We are not only trying to tie-up with major players in the cotton industry but are also planning to send progressive cotton growers and industrialists to China, Australia, United States, Britain, Europe and other countries. They will look into the upgradation of technology for quality cotton production and also explore market potential for cotton products,' Badal told cotton growers and industrialists here.He urged agriculture scientists to find new techniques to increase cotton production.
(c) Indo-Asian News Service
