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Maharashtra adopts sluggish approach to TMC modernisation process

Even though Maharashtra is one of the largest producers of cotton in the country, the state cotton community has failed to respond satisfactorily to the ongoing Technology Mission on Cotton (TMC) for the development of market yard and modernisation of ginning and pressing (G&P) factories. Arbind Gupta reports.

Since the beginning of the technology mission in 1999-2000, the TMC authorities have taken up 14 market yards for development and 76 G&P factories for modernisation in the state. As against this, Gujarat which produces more or less same volume of cotton has got 25 market yards and as high as 153 G&P units under the TMC process.

"Only very recently, Maharashtra has responded positively to the entire TMC initiative. In future, we are expecting more number of G&P units to come forward to avail the TMC efforts. The benefits of modernisation can easily be seen in case of modernised units. However, in my view, the outcome of the modernisation can only be optimise through adoption of a proper management practice which should be an ongoing process," stated Mr M B Lal, advisor, TMC (Mini iii &iv).

It is encouraging to note that many of modernised G&P units have been able to maintain a trash level of as low as 1-3 per cent as against present 5-8 per cent trash level in Indian cotton. Many modernised ginneries have reported receiving premium ranging from Rs 200-Rs 1000 per candy. Moreover, the increased starage capacity built up through TMC has virtually caused an extension of the ginning season by several weeks in case of some ginneries.

Modern factories have been able to significantly reduce expenditure on labour. While in a modernised unit, the energy and labour costs together work out to just Rs 185, they are as high as Rs 261 in a non automated unit which relies on a larger labour force for feeding gins, conveying materials as also filling cotton in bale boxes and compacting them. Thus the net economic advantage works out to Rs 76 per bale, which is likely to fetch as much as Rs 15 lakh for a unit processing 20,000 bales of cotton in a season.

During the 8-year period between 1999-2000, under mini - iii, 111 market yards will be developed. These units are expected to handle around 60 per cent of India’s cotton. So far, 109 (project cost: Rs 190.21 crore) market development projects have been taken up, of which 47 have already been completed.

During the same period, TMC proposes to modernise around 500 G & P units. So far, already 262 units (total project cost: Rs 314.74 crore) have been taken up, of which 154 units have been completed.

Currently, there are over 3000 G & P units in the country, even as there is need for only 1000-1200 units of economically viable size with a production capacity of around 8 bales. Most of the existing units are small in size and a very few of them are composite in nature.