By; SANI ALIYU, Zaria
The Institute for Agricultural Research (IAR) Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria has unveiled master samples of cotton for grading produce for the year 2021 to ensure that Nigeria’s cotton competes favourably at the global market.
Unveiling the samples during the Annual Cotton master sample and production meeting 2021 on Friday in Zaria, Prof. Isa Onu, Programme Leader, Cotton, said the essence of the meeting was to harness and strengthen the quality of cotton produce emanating from Nigeria to enable it compete favorably at international market.
He said, “as a country, we need to position ourselves in such a manner that our cotton commands the necessary leverage at the international market to ensure that we source for necessary market and better sales of the produce,’’ he said.
He said the meeting put together key stakeholders in cotton production with a view to developing the master sample of cotton for grading of cotton produce for the year.
He said the developed master sample would guide the grading of cotton for the year before the marketing exercise for the produce commenced, hence, the grade one and two samples of the produce.
” The master samples would be taken to various cotton producing states where it would be used to determine the quality of the cotton for it to fetch premium or sub-premium prices”.
Professor Onu said what determines the quality is the thrash content in the seed and stains of the lint; the cotton seed and lint that are devoid of thrash and stain would fetch premium price.
Earlier, Prof. Mohammed Faguji aIshiyaku Executive Director of the Institute reiterated that the meeting was convened by the institute to set standards for uniform seed cotton grading to meet the international market requirement.
Ishiyaku, represented by Prof Ado Yusuf, Deputy Director of the institute, said the meeting would also review production, quality and marketing issues, related challenges and possible solutions.
He however, admitted that the cotton industry has witnessed successive government interventions but the desired transformation that would place Nigeria among the countries in the world is yet to be achieved.
Faguji expressed optimism that the `Cotton master plan for Nigeria’ developed by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development would revitalize the cotton industry and address challenges associated with cotton value chain.
Alhaji Hassan Buhari, General Secretary, National Cotton Association of Nigerian (NACOTAN) advocated for the cotton producing states to embark on establishment of gazetted markets known as cotton buying centers across the local government in their states.
He said the gazette markets would boost economic activates, and boost the cotton quality which was deteriorating as a result of uncontrolled trade of the produce outside the required designated cotton markets.
“In those days, cotton used to be properly graded and rated as grade A,B and C, according to its quality. If this is done a farmer will get value for his produce.
“This is because any contaminated cotton will be rejected right from there. We recommend the enactment of rules by cotton producing states through relevant edicts to regulate the cotton sector.
“To encourage use of cloth bags for picking and bagging of seed cotton to avoid contamination risk that makes our cotton to be rejected or sometimes discounted at international markets,’’ he said.
