Ginners Empowered to Produce Kasturi Cotton Bharat Brand

Overview

1. Initiative: The Ministry of Textiles has empowered cotton ginners across India to produce the Kasturi Cotton Bharat brand, utilizing QR code certification technology as per the established protocol.
2. Objective: To ensure the quality and traceability of cotton, facilitating the certification and branding of Indian cotton.

Who are Ginners?

1. Definition: Ginners are individuals who operate cotton gins. A cotton gin is a machine that separates cotton fibers from seeds.
2. Role: The process of ginning is crucial in cotton production, transforming cotton from its raw state into fibers ready for textile processing. This was historically done manually but is now mechanized. Ginners ensure the cotton fibers are clean and suitable for further processing, contributing significantly to the cotton-based products used daily.

Key Features

1. Registered Units: Approximately 343 modernized ginning and pressing units have been registered across the country to participate in the Kasturi Cotton Bharat initiative.
2. Certified Cotton: Around 100 bales of cotton from Andhra Pradesh have been certified under the Kasturi Cotton Bharat brand.
3. Collaborative Effort: The Kasturi Bharat initiative is a joint effort between the central government, trade bodies, and the industry, formalized through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Cotton Corporation of India and the Cotton Textiles Export Promotion Council on December 15, 2022.
4. Budgetary Support: The initiative has been allocated a budget of Rs. 30 crore, with Rs. 15 crore provided by trade and industry bodies.
5. Technology: Implements QR-based certification technology for each stage of processing and uses a Blockchain-based software platform for end-to-end traceability and transaction certificates.
6. Impact: The initiative supports the cotton industry, contributes to economic growth, and promotes self-reliance by fostering collaboration between the government, trade bodies, and industry stakeholders. As more ginners and stakeholders engage with this program, it is expected to drive innovation and sustainability within the cotton sector.

Implementation Status

1. National Level: The Kasturi Cotton Bharat program is operational throughout India.
2. Empowerment of Ginners: Ginners across the country are now empowered to produce the Kasturi Cotton Bharat brand following the stipulated protocol.
3. Microsite Development: A microsite has been created featuring QR code verification and Blockchain technology to ensure traceability of the certified cotton.

About Kasturi Cotton Bharat

1. Objective: To establish a premium value for Indian cotton, adhering to benchmarked specifications.
2. Traceability and Certification: Represents a pioneering effort in the traceability, certification, and branding of Indian cotton.
3. MoU: The formal agreement was signed on December 15, 2022, between the Cotton Corporation of India and the Cotton Textiles Export Promotion Council.
4. Technology: Utilizes QR code certification technology and a Blockchain-based software platform to ensure comprehensive traceability and certification of transactions.

Cotton Textiles Export Promotion Council (CTEPC)

1. Establishment: Established by the Government of India in 1954 as the first council set up after Independence.
2. Role: An autonomous, nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting cotton textile exports from India.
3. Membership: Includes around 3,000 companies across major textile clusters in India, encompassing manufacturers and exporters of cotton textile products, including cotton, yarns, fabrics, and home textiles.

Conclusion

Empowering ginners to produce the Kasturi Cotton Bharat brand is a major step towards enhancing the quality and traceability of Indian cotton. Moreover, Adoption of QR code and Blockchain technology ensures that Indian cotton meets international standards and gains premium value in the global market.

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