Government Reaction to Rebranding Vidarbha Cotton as Kasturi Is Prompted by Ginners' Concerns
Once again, Vidarbha's ginners are expressing apprehension over the central government's move to designate Vidarbha cotton as Kasturi, citing the imposition of stringent quality compliance standards introduced since February this year.
A joint effort between The Central Institute for Research on Cotton Technology (CIRCOT), The Cotton Textiles Export Promotion Council (TEXPROCIL), and the Vidarbha Cotton Association, a national workshop titled 'Branding Vidarbha Cotton as Kasturi,' convened at the regional Ginning Training Centre on Amravati Road on Thursday.
While the government's goal is to enhance quality and support farmers, ginners remain uneasy about factors they feel are beyond their control.
Their concerns echo those raised during the previous implementation of quality control measures for cotton bales by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) last year. Following opposition, the government postponed the initiative until August this year.
Given the potential legal consequences of adhering to BIS standards, ginners are particularly troubled by issues such as variations in seed varieties available to farmers, climatic conditions, pest infestations, suboptimal picking practices, improper handling and storage, and multiple picking cycles throughout the year.
Government officials have assured to address these doubts. They clarified, "Indian cotton has not been marketed under a specific brand name thus far. Hence, the government has introduced the designation of Kasturi Cotton Bharat to confer a distinct identity. While certain quality benchmarks must be met, ginners remain hesitant."
A representative of the ginning community emphasized, "Ginners are processors, not producers. Many among us are still unfamiliar with the concept of Kasturi, which bears similarities to BIS norms."
Dilip Thakre, a farmer from Akola and a prominent cotton expert representing Vidarbha on various committees, provided insights into the Kasturi initiative. "Kasturi entails the premium purchase of cotton by the Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) from ginners. Approximately 300 ginners from the cotton belt will be selected to supply high-quality cotton to the CCI. These bales will be marketed under the Kasturi brand. Presently, Indian cotton is primarily sold as bales."
Thakre explained that Indian bales often fail to command favorable prices due to the absence of a recognized brand name and concerns regarding the potential mixing of inferior cotton. "Under the Kasturi scheme, ginners will be required to supply cotton from the first picking, as trash content tends to increase in subsequent pickings. Furthermore, yarn and designer fabric will also be manufactured under the Kasturi brand."
Each bale will undergo geo-tagging, encompassing parameters such as moisture content, staple length, and trash content, ensuring traceability and quality assurance throughout the supply chain.
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