Maharashtra plans to develop Vidarbha district as a textile hub. The 2016-17 Budget will have a special allocation to promote cotton based industries. The detailed plan includes integrating the three nodal departments of textile, finance and agriculture.

The textile sector will be promoted through a public-private-partnership. Vidarbha is a major cotton growing region of India and among the biggest. It contributes 30 per cent of the crop. As part of the farm-to-fashion drive, the state government will spend Rs 2,000 crores in the region. A value added chain will integrate farmers with the textile industry.

All cotton related small and medium scale industries would be promoted in the region including cotton spinning mills in Akola, Buldhana, Yavatmal, Washim. At Nandgaon, 500 hectares of land have been approved for the textile hub which has received proposal from eight players. Work has already started.

Maharashtra has been pushing hard to seek higher minimum support price from the Center for cotton. The Center meanwhile has fixed MSP at Rs 4,100 per quintal. The process of cotton procurement is on with outlets including Nagpur, Aurangabad. The target of 100 lakh quintals is higher than last season’s 27 lakh quintals.