Focus on Kasturi Cotton Quality; ₹500 Incentive per Bale
Barwani: Farmers in the district are being sensitized about the 'Kasturi Cotton India' initiative, aimed at enhancing the quality and brand recognition of Indian cotton. A one-day workshop under the Kasturi Cotton India program was held on Tuesday, September 29, at the Anjad Agricultural Produce Market premises. Farmers were provided with information regarding cotton quality, cleanliness, storage, and transportation.
Kasturi Cotton India is neither a new cotton variety nor a new seed; rather, it is an initiative focused on the branding, certification, and traceability of Indian cotton. The workshop highlighted a provision for an incentive of ₹500 per bale of quality cotton. According to official information, the objective of Kasturi Cotton India is to strengthen the quality of Indian cotton and bolster its identity in the global market.
Nitin Tomar, Project Coordinator for CITI-CDRA, advised farmers to purchase certified seeds suitable for their region exclusively from authorized dealers. He cautioned against selecting seeds based solely on low prices or the images on the packaging. Emphasis was also placed on soil testing, proper nutrition, organic manure, and natural crop protection methods. The adoption of HDPS (High-Density Planting System) technology was also encouraged.
Care must be taken to ensure that soil, leaves, plastic, debris, and other foreign materials do not contaminate the cotton during picking. Maintaining cleanliness during packing, storage, and transportation is equally crucial. These measures help preserve the cotton's quality from the field to the ginning stage.
The Anjad workshop provided details on quality parameters such as fiber length, trash content, moisture, strength, uniformity index, and micronaire. These details should be viewed in the context of the quality standards outlined during the workshop.
Meanwhile, the official Kasturi Cotton certification system covers long-staple cotton with a fiber length of 28 mm or more and Extra-Long Staple (ELS) cotton with a length of 35 mm or more. QR-based certification and blockchain technology are used to identify each certified bale, ensuring end-to-end traceability of the cotton.
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