Technology Mission for Technical Textile

The Government has already launched a Technology Mission on Technical Textiles (TMTT) for a period of five years (from 2010-11 to 2014-15) with a fund outlay of Rs. 200 crore. The Scheme has two MiniMissions. Mini Mission-I is for standardization, creating common testing facilities, indigenous development of prototypes and Resource Centres with I.T infrastructure in eight Centres of Excellence (COE). Mini Mission-II focuses on support for domestic and export market development of Technical Textiles through assistance for business start-ups; contract research; assistance for buyer seller meets and participation in international exhibitions/seminars for Technical Textiles. The production of cotton yarn, cotton fabrics, blended fabrics and 100% Non cotton fabrics during the last 3 years is given below :-

Items Cotton yarn Cotton cloth Blended cloth 100% Non cotton cloth Fabrics (excluding Khadi, wool & silk) Source: Textile Commissioner

Unit Mn. Kg. Mn. Sq.mtr Mn. Sq.mtr Mn. Sq.mtr Mn. Sq.mtr

2008-09 2896 26898 6766 20534 54198

2009-10 3079 28914 7767 22840 59521

2010-11 (Prov) 3469 31204 8135 21657 60996

In order to increase the share of Indian clothes in the world market and to enhance capacity of manmade fibre, the government has launched various schemes / measures like Technology UpgradationFund Scheme (TUFS), Scheme for Integrated Textile Parks (SITP) and Common Compliance Code. To encourage Foreign Direct Investment in Technical Textiles, under the Technology Mission on Technical Textiles (TMTT), empanelled associations/ institutes/ COEs will be eligible for a service fee of 3% of the project cost for FDI projects on successful completion of the projects in Medium, Small and Micro Enterprises sector. This information was given by Smt. Panabaaka Lakshmi, Minister of State for Textiles, in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today. DS/gk

Jute Technology Mission

Lok Sabha Government has approved the Jute Technology Mission, which is yet to be launched formally. The proposed cost of the Mission is Rs. 355.55 crores. The Jute Technology Mission will be operationalised through four Mini Missions. It has the following objectives: To improve yield and quality of jute fibre; To strengthen existing infrastructure for development and supply of quality seeds; Improvement of quality of fibre through better methods of retting and extraction technologies; To increase the supply of quality raw material to the jute industry at reasonable prices and to develop efficient market linkage for raw jute; To modernize, technologically upgrade, improve productivity, diversify and develop human resource for the jute industry; To develop and commercialise innovative technology for diversified use of jute and allied fibres. Of the four Mini Missions of the Jute Technology Mission, Mini Mission-I, II and III specifically provide for growth of jute growers. The mandate of Mini Mission-I is to strengthen Research and Technology activities for the development of improved varieties and protection technologies for jute and allied crops. This will make available good quality seeds and short duration crops to the jute growers. The mandate of Mini Mission-II is to transfer improved technology through extension to the farmers. This will make available the latest retting techniques to the farmers and also help in quality improvement of the crops. The mandate of Mini Mission-III is to develop and ensure efficient market linkages and value addition for raw jute by Upgradation of the existing market infrastructure and facilities to be provided to farmers. This will enable the farmers to get a fair market price by providing reliable and accessible market information. This information was given by the Minister of State for Textiles Shri E.V.K.S. Elangovan in a written reply in Lok Sabha today. ******* NSK/vk

Technology Mission for Horticulture Development

In order to improve livelihood opportunities and to bring prosperity to the NER including Sikkim, Govt. of India has launched a Technology Mission (TM) for Integrated Development of Horticulture. The Mission is based on the end-to-end approach taking to account the entire gamut of horticulture development, with all backward and forward linkages, in a holistic manner. The objective of the scheme is to improve the production and productivity of horticultural crops by harnessing the potential of the region. Special emphasis is to be given to low volume, High value, Less perishable Horticulture crops. Through this Mission, a horticulture based farming system is to be developed, thereby providing viable and ample opportunities for employment besides improving the productivity of land. The Technology Mission has a structure of four Mini Missions viz., Mini Mission I : for Research Mini Mission - II : for Improving Production & Productivity Mini Mission - III: for post-harvest Management, Marketing and Export. Mini Mission - IV : for Processing and Marketing of Processed Products.

Department of Agriculture & Cooperation, Ministry of Agriculture, Govt.of India is the nodal department for the Technology Mission for Coordination and implementation. The TM in NER including Sikkim wll be able to provide much-needed focal thrust to the requirement of the region. Mini Mission I - Research MM-I is meant for Research to provide technology support. MM-I will deal with Research for improving productivity of horticultural crops. The ICAR will act as the nodal agency for Implementing the programmes under MM-I. The MM-I will focus on stepping up of research efforts on horticultural crops for location specific varietal development, standardization of production and protection technologies, production and supply of breeder seed/seeds of improved high yielding varieties and nucleus planting materials and popularization of improved technologies through on-farm trials and imparting training to extension functionaries. MM-I plan outlay The Nineth Plan outlay for MM-I for the region for the financial year, 2001-2002 is Rs. 250 lakhs. The A.A.U.s share for the year is Rs. 87.49 lakhs. Participating Institutions The participating Institution for implementing the Research Programmes under MM-I are Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat and its Regional Stations, viz., Horticultural Research Station, Kahikuchi, Citrus Research Station, Tinsukia, B.N.C.A., Biswanath Chariali. ICAR Research complex for NEH region, Barapani and regional centres viz., Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Tripura. National Research Centre for Orchids, Pakyong, Sikkim. Central Potato Research Institute, Research Station, Shillong. Central Plantation Crops Research Institute, Regional Centre, Kahikuchi. Programme Management Programme Leader: The performance and monitoring of the different centres of the MM-I programme is to be done under the leadership of Dr. G.L. Kaul, Vice Chancellor, Assam Agril. University, Jorhat who is the Programme Leeder of the MM-I - Research. Principal Investigator: The PI for the entireregion for MM-I - Research is Dr. R.C. Upadhyay, Director, National Research Centre for orchids, Sikkim. Co-Principal Investigator: CO-PI for implementing Research programmes at AAU is Dr. N.K. Mohan, Chief Scientist, HRS, Kahikuchi. Programme coordinator: Programme coordinator for implementing research programmes at AAU is Dr. R.K. bhattacharyya, Prof.& Head, Horticulture, AAU, Jorhat. Research Programmes at AAU under MM-I Production of Nucleus/Basic seed and planting materials in Banana, vegetables, potato and flowers. Standardization of production and protection technologies in Banana, Vegetables, tuber crops including potato, ginger, black pepper, arecanut, cashewnut, parchouli, water management

in banana, integrated nutrient management in vegetables and citrus. Integrated pest management in vegetables. Technology refinement and imparting training through on farm trials in vegetables, citrus rejuvenation and improvement of Baris (Homestead gardens).

Sugar Technology Mission

The Sugar Technology Mission launched in the year 1994, focuses on technology upgradation for the Indian Sugar industry. The purpose is to use latest environment friendly, cost effective technologies for achieving efficient sugar production through improvements in plant efficiencies, energy saving and reduced inputs. Technology Upgradation of Sugar Factories The Mission has so far prepared detailed schemes for 53 sugar factories for their technological upgradation. This has lead to reduction in cost of conversion and improvements in capital output ratio. The list of completed detailed project reports (DPR) during 2006-07 for the sugar factories is as under:

S. No. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.

Factory RBNS Sugar Mills, U.P (Phase-II) Mohan Rao Sindhe SSK Ltd, Maharashtra (CoGen) Sri Chamundeswari Sugars Ltd, Karnataka The Haryana Co-op Sugar Mills Ltd. Uttam Sugar Mills Ltd., Unit-Sikandarabad; U.P Uttam Sugar Mills Ltd., Unit-Shermau; U.P Uttam Sugar Mills Ltd., Unit-Khaikheri; U.P Madhuraj Agrotech Ltd., Dhaula; Punjab. Crystal Energy & Foods Ltd, Gurdaspur, Punjab Jai Mahash Sugar Industries Ltd, Maharshtra

Evaluation of New Technologies The Mission has also evaluated a number of new technologies and has rendered financial support to 24 Nos. new technologies so far for their trials and evaluation. Technologies that have successfully commercialized and replicated have led to benefits of improved sugar recovery, energy saving and improvements in sugar quality. There have been about 20 replications in the Sugar Industry during the current year. The technologies, which have been successfully commercially evaluated so far and have been either replicated or are ready for replication are:

Separate Clarification of Vacuum Filtrates Thin Film Sulphur Burner for Continuous generation of SO2 to achieve satisfactory juice clarification parameters. PLC based integrated clarification control system for automatic control of juice purification, better removal of non-sugars. Blanco Directo / Syrup treatment process for production of superior quality sugar. Low Pressure Extraction System (LPE).

Computerized Automation of Condensing and Cooling System Planetary Gear Box Enterprises Resources Planning (ERP) System Alternate Material Components for Sugar Mills Monitoring and Control System for pan boiling Distillery effluent treatment system. Ethanol from secondary Juice. Development of cost effective Fibrizer hammer tips.

Overseas Assignment The road map prepared on revival of sugar mills in Fiji is under implementation. The above task is in addition to the progress / work submitted and completed by STM.

New Missions Proposed in the 12th Five Year Plan Amalgamating Host of Activities inthe Agriculture Field

Onsetting the Agenda for agriculture in the 12th Five Year Plan, the Finance Minister ShriPranab Mukherjee announced revamping of five Missions as part of his budgetary proposals in LokSabha today. The Government intends to merge various activities into a set of missions to address the needs of agricultural development. The National Food Security Mission aims to bridge the yield gap in respect of paddy, wheat, pulses, millet and fodder. The ongoing Integrated Development of Pulses Villages, Promotion of Nutricereals and Accelerated Fodder Development Programme would now become a part of this Mission. The Finance Minister said that National Mission on Sustainable Agriculture including Micro Irrigation is being taken up as a part of the National Action Plan on climate change. The Rainfed Area Development Programme is to be merged in this Mission. The Finance Minister Shri Mukherjee hoped that the National Mission on Oilseeds and Oil Palm will increase production and productivity of oilseeds and oil palm. In the new proposals, the National Mission on Agricultural Extension and Technology focuses on adoption of appropriate technologies by farmers for improving productivity and efficiency in farm operations. The National Horticulture Mission will now also promote horticulture diversification including an initiative on saffron. The Finance Minister said that the Mission for Protein Supplement is being strengthened. He announced that with a view to improving the productivity in the dairy sector, a Rs. 2,242 crore project is being launched with World Bank assistance. Shri Mukherjee said that to broaden the scope of production of fish to coastal aquaculture, apart from fresh water aquaculture, the outlay in 2012-13 is being stepped up to Rs. 500 crore. He assured that suitable allocations are also being made for poultry, piggery and goat rearing. The food processing sector has been growing at an average rate of over 8 per cent over the past 5 years. In order to have a better outreach and to provide more flexibility to suit local needs, it has been decided that a new centrally sponsored scheme titled National Mission on Food Processing would be started in cooperation with the State Governments in 2012-13.