ITF taking steps to bring down trash level in cotton

The Indian Texpreneurs Federation is taking steps to bring down the trash level in cotton being purchased from various ginners in the country.

As part of the efforts, both ITF and ginners will bring down the trash level from two to three per cent now to nil, which will have an impact on the cost of purchase, ITF cotton team convener Prabhu Damodaran told reporters here.

ITF, which has already formed a consortium with 64 ginners from Telangana, Maharashtra, Karnataka and other cotton producing states, will focus on creating more awareness among the ginners, since the cotton loses its quality during processing--farm to finish, he said.

"Though Indian cotton is very good in quality compared to available in the world, it has not lived up to its potential due to lesser awareness," he said.

Representatives of ginners associations from Maharashtra, Karnataka and Telangana, who were present at the press conference, said they anticipated increased acreage and also good quality cotton in the coming season, following good rains reported in all states.

Besides more farmers are likely to cultivate cotton this season (October-September), following the increased MSP, as announced by the Centre, they said.

However, both the mills and ginners wanted government to help farmers increase the yield by providing necessary technology as it crossed 1,000 kg in other countries, while it was around 500 to 600 kg per hectare in India, they said.

Damodaran said the 32 member mills, who had purchased 3.8 lakh bales last season, will buy 4.5 to 5 lakh bales this season.