It is the biggest crop grown within the state, however cotton produced in Maharashtra usually faces critical high quality issues, affecting farmers’ incomes.
Maharashtra accounts for over 30 per cent of the cotton grown within the nation, however the state’s farmers fail to compete with their counterparts in Rajasthan, Gujarat or Telangana in each yield and yield per hectare.
Now, Smart Cotton, a World Bank-sponsored challenge, goals to assist farmers within the state develop high quality cotton by incorporating greatest practices into their fields.
Jayesh Mahajan, senior official of Maharashtra Cooperative Cotton Growers Association stated that the per hectare yield of cotton in Maharashtra is between 8-9 quintals as in comparison with 14-15 quintals per hectare on the nationwide stage. Worldwide, cotton growers see very excessive yields of 24–25 q/ha, with US farmers reporting 55 q/ha.
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“One of the main reasons why Indian cotton has failed to manage premium prices in the world markets is the quality of raw material available for the production of bales,” stated Mahajan. Mahajan stated that the Smart Cotton challenge goals to remodel the whole worth chain to assist Indian cotton ship a premium worth on this planet market.
Mahajan stated that there’s a want for increased high quality requirements all through the life cycle of the crop, from seed choice to harvesting.
It will not be solely within the complete yield the place farmers within the state fail to satisfy the standard requirements, as additionally they report excessive waste content material of their uncooked supplies. During the harvesting of cotton, lots of waste materials is added to extend the burden, however on the finish of the method, it reduces the possibilities of the completed product, each bale or yarn, to fetch a premium worth on this planet market. “The goal of our project is to bring about a change in the way farmers grow their crops so that the pressed vine can be sold at a premium price,” he stated.
To assist ginners and press unit homeowners to supply uniform high quality of cotton bales, this challenge will encourage farmers to develop the identical selection within the village.
“In developed cotton-growing countries, farmers have large land holdings that allow the production of identical bales. Indian cotton growers have smaller holdings and are less likely to produce a similar bale, with each going for different varieties,” he stated.
Mahajan stated that one farmer producing high quality cotton will not make a lot distinction, so the challenge is being applied in 60 talukas of 20 cotton rising districts.
Over the subsequent 5 years, the challenge goals to supply a million bales of branded cotton (every bale with 170 kg of pressed cotton) from these clusters of villages in Maharashtra. The branding of the bails might be accomplished by the Maharashtra authorities, which is able to act as a 3rd occasion auditor.
The challenge can have a broad know-how arm with blockchain traceability being the spine of the identical. Mahajan hopes that the technical side will present the potential to beat absolutely the backwardness of cotton.
Citing the instance of US cotton, Mahajan stated it was additionally used whereas branding the ultimate merchandise. “Our aim is to develop smart cotton on similar lines. A simple scan of the QR code will reveal that this cotton is originated in the distressed districts of Maharashtra,” he stated.
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With inputs from TheIndianEXPRESS
