CITI–CDRA Showcases Machine Cotton Harvesting Demo In Nagpur
The Confederation of Indian Textile Industry–Cotton Development and Research Association (CITI–CDRA), in collaboration with the ICAR-Central Institute for Cotton Research, Shaktiman Agro and RASI Seeds, organised a live demonstration on machine harvesting of cotton at the HDPS Cotton Farm of CICR in Nagpur on February 27.
The programme featured a technical session with active participation from scientists of CICR and the Central Institute for Research on Cotton Technology, focusing on end-to-end mechanisation in cotton cultivation from sowing to harvesting, with particular emphasis on machine harvesting as a key enabler for future-ready farming.
Live demonstrations included the Shaktiman cotton harvesting machine for HDPS cotton, a cotton stalk shredder, and advanced spraying solutions, offering farmers practical insights into mechanised operations.
Around 200 farmers attended the event, engaging directly with experts to better understand how mechanisation can enhance efficiency, reduce labour dependency and improve productivity.
Experts noted that machine-harvested cotton may contain up to 20 per cent trash content, highlighting the need for ginning units to adopt pre-cleaning systems. The modernisation of ginning and pressing factories was identified as critical, with potential support under the upcoming Cotton Mission.
CITI–CDRA expressed its willingness to contribute as an implementing partner in advancing mechanisation initiatives within the sector.
