Naidu seeks fund release for NIFT in Amaravati

Vijayawada: Chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu has urged the Centre 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 and held discussions. 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. He sought support for setting up banana fibre extraction units in major banana-growing districts, including Kadapa, Anantapur, Nandyal, West Godavari, Krishna and East Godavari. Naidu said the state has banana cultivation in over 1.29 lakh hectares, and the fibre extracted from post-harvest banana stems could be used for eco-friendly textiles, handicrafts, geo-textiles and export-quality garments.
He also proposed mechanical bamboo fibre processing units through the PPP mode to generate sustained income for tribal farmers and sought support for coir-based industries in coastal districts. Naidu said value-added coir products such as geo-rolls and needle-felt could fetch three to four times higher returns than raw fibre exports. 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. Giriraj Singh assured full cooperation from the Union Textiles Ministry for the state’s proposals.