The futures trading in cotton will be implemented at the earliest for facilitating a smooth marketing of the farmer's produce at minimal price fluctuations, he said and added that this will also ensure stability to the volatile cotton trade.

The government is deeply concerned about the repeated anti-dumping proceedings by European Union on the country's textile products and is planning to take up the matter with WTO very soon, the minister said. The technology mission on cotton will have 4 mini-missions. While the first two mini-missions will deal with R&D for development of high yielding cotton varieties, the other two will dealwith improvements in cotton marketing and cotton processing including infrastructure development, he added.

The government has taken a drive to upgrade quality testing & eco parameter testing laboratories in a big way, he said. It has already set up 42 laboratories including 12 eco laboratories, he added.

The government is very keen to sort out the NTC modernisation as early as possible and has taken up the issue of sale of surplus land with Maharashtra government, he said and added that further delay will make more and more mills unviable for revival. Despite the general slowdown, the textile exports have picked up and he government is keen on sorting out the problems to ensure better performance, he said.