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G. Gurumurthy

To replace the existing acid-based process

Coimbatore , Sept. 26

The SIMA Cotton Development and Research Association (SIMA-CDRA) proposes to set up a gas-based cotton seed delinting unit at its cotton research farm in Ponnery near Udumalpet.

Estimated to cost about Rs 40 lakh, the unit will have a capacity to process 5 tonnes of seeds per day and will replace the CDRA's existing acid-based delinting process.

At present, SIMA-CDRA uses the sulphuric acid-based seed delinting process and in this process, apart from exposing the people to acid-spills and personal injuries, the quality of the delinted seed may be affected by factors such as loss of vigour and discolouring of seed.

The association has chosen to shift to hydrogen chloride gas-based seed delinting system, which will also contribute to higher productivity and lower cost of production, besides ensuring that the quality of the seeds remain unaffected, according to Dr T.V. Karivaradaraaju, SIMA-CDRA's chief adviser.

Subsidy provided

Recognised as a scientific and industrial research organisation, SIMA-CDRA's gas-based cotton seed delinting project has been approved by the Tamil Nadu State Agriculture Department, which has also approved a subsidy of Rs 20 lakh for it under the intensive cotton development programme.

The association is also engaged in production and distribution of genetically pure cottonseeds for the farmers. As part of the quality seed production programme, SIMA-CDRA has proposed a project to produce foundation and certified cotton seeds for which the State Government has also approved Rs 43-lakh subsidy programme for the year 2006-07, according to Mr J. Thulasidharan, Chairman, SIMA-CDRA. The association, under this scheme, is to produce 14 tonnes of foundation seeds and 220 tonnes of certified seeds during the current year.

The SIMA cotton body has also been approved to conduct 200 front line demonstration for cotton farming with a view to transferring the farm technology to the field during this winter for which the Technology Mission on Cotton would provide Rs 4 lakh.

More Stories on : Seeds | Cotton | Tamil Nadu

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