Garhwal Post Bureau
Dehradun/Guwahati, 8 Jan: Uttarakhand Agriculture Minister Ganesh Joshi participated in the two-day National Conference of Textile Ministers organised by the Ministry of Textiles, Government of India, in Guwahati, Assam, as the representative of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami.
The conference, held on the theme, “Weaving the Fabric of India’s Textile Development, Heritage and Innovation,” was attended by ministers, senior officials, industry experts, and representatives associated with the textile sector from across the country.
During the event, Agriculture Minister Ganesh Joshi, along with Union Textile Minister Giriraj Singh, and Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, visited and reviewed the stalls set up by various states. On the first day of the conference, important issues such as policy reforms, innovation, investment opportunities, and employment generation were discussed. The Union Ministry of Textiles has given a positive assurance regarding the proposals submitted by Uttarakhand.
Addressing the national platform, Minister Ganesh Joshi highlighted the immense potential of Uttarakhand’s textile, handloom, and handicraft sectors. He congratulated the Union Ministry of Textiles for successfully organising the conference and stated that Himalayan and north-eastern states such as Uttarakhand and Assam share common challenges and opportunities. He emphasised that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Make in India and Vocal for Local vision, and Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, Uttarakhand is committed to modernising its traditional textile industry.
The minister stated that, around 12,000 weavers and 26,000 artisans, are directly associated with this sector in the state. Uttarakhand produces approximately 4,616 quintals of wool annually, and the state’s climate is highly suitable for Merino and Angora wool.
Emphasising natural fibres, Minister Joshi said that Uttarakhand is playing a leading role in textile production using fibres derived from nettle (Himalayan nettle) and industrial hemp, which represent the future of sustainable fashion. He also stated that high-quality bivoltine silk is being produced in the state, emerging as a strong alternative to imported silk. Through the Uttarakhand Handloom and Handicraft Development Council, artisans are being provided support in design, training, and marketing. Women self-help groups are being linked with skill development initiatives, and market access is being facilitated through e-marketplaces, Himadri Emporium, and various fairs. The state has received GI tags for 29 products, including 10 handloom and handicraft items.
Highlighting achievements in the silk sector, Minister Ganesh Joshi stated that Uttarakhand has achieved self-reliance in silkworm seed production. In the year 2025–26, 7.585 lakh DFLs were produced, leading to a significant increase in the income of silkworm rearers, especially women, who have become Lakhpati Didis. He described the SPV-model silk cluster established at Yamkeshwar in Pauri as a model for other hilly states.
During the conference, Agriculture Minister Ganesh Joshi presented five key proposals before the Union Ministry of Textiles: a mini textile park policy for hill states, a special package for wool processing, inclusion of nettle and hemp under the National Technical Textiles Mission, transport subsidy on handloom and handicraft products, and establishment of a NIFT extension centre in Uttarakhand.
