By Mustapha Yauri

The Institute for Agricultural Research (IAR), Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, unveiled master samples for grading of cotton produce for year 2021 on Friday.

This is to ensure that Nigeria’s cotton competes favourably at the global market.

The institute unveiled the samples at the annual cotton master sample and production meeting Year 2021 held in Zaria, Kaduna State.

Prof. Isa Onu, Programme Leader, Cotton, at IAR said the meeting was to harness and strengthen quality of cotton produced in Nigeria to enable it to compete favourably at the international market.

“As a country, we need to position ourselves in a manner that our cotton commands the necessary leverage at the international market.

“This is to ensure that we source for necessary market and better sales of the produce,’’ he said.

He said the meeting brought key stakeholders in cotton production together to develop the master sample of cotton for grading for the year.

He said the developed two master samples would guide the grading of cotton for the year before marketing began.

He added that the master samples would be taken to various cotton producing states where they would be used to determine the quality that would fetch premium or sub-premium prices.

Onu explained that the quality of the thrash content in the seed and stains of the lint determined the quality.

He added that cotton seed and lint that were devoid of thrash and stain would fetch premium price.

Earlier, Prof. Ado Yusuf, Deputy Director of the institute said it convened the meeting to set the standard for uniform seed cotton grading to meet international market requirements.

He said the meeting would also review production, quality and marketing issues, related challenges and possible solutions.

He noted that the cotton industry had witnessed successive government interventions, but the desired transformation to place Nigeria among the comity of cotton producing nations was yet to be achieved.

In his remarks at the function, Alhaji Hassan Buhari, General Secretary, National Cotton Association of Nigeria, advocated that cotton producing states should establish gazetted markets for cotton.

He said the gazetted markets would boost economic activities and boost cotton quality which was deteriorating as a result of uncontrolled trade in the produce.

“In days past, cotton used to be properly graded and rated as grade A, B and C, according quality. If this is done, a farmer will get value for his produce.

“This is because any contaminated cotton will be rejected on the spot. We recommend the enactment of rules by cotton producing states through relevant edicts to regulate the cotton sector.

“We also recommend the use of cloth bags for picking and bagging of seed cotton to avoid contamination.

“Such contamination makes us run the risk of rejection of our cotton or sometimes discounting at the international market,’’ Buhari said.

(NAN)