News
The September 2018 ICAC Recorder Addresses Value Addition, Sustainability and Ginning
Date Posted: 12 October, 2018
Executive Summary
The September 2018 ICAC Recorderhighlights include:
- A focus on ‘Cotton High Yields —This Time for Africa’
- An editorial from ICAC’s Dr. Keshav Kranthi about the challenges of increasing yields in Africa, as well as the opportunities that exist today
- A feature article about the proceedings and recommendations made at the 14th SEACF meeting
- Two articles focusing on ideas for increasing yields and enhancing the value of cotton by-products in Africa
- An analysis of how plant architecture can help break yield barriers in Africa
The September2018 ICAC Recorder Addresses ValueAddition, Sustainability and Ginning
The June 2018 ICAC Recorder,based on the theme ‘Value Addition of Cotton Fibres and By-Products:Sustainable Practices’, has been made available to the public by theInternational Cotton Advisory Committee’s Head of the Technical Information Section,Dr. Keshav Kranthi. The Q3 edition features four articles and an editorial fromDr. Kranthi that cover 30+ pages and provide a wealth of data and insights on severaltopics of crucial importance to Africa.
Theissue begins with Dr. Kranthi’s editorial, which addresses the paradox of thecontinent’s low yields despite having many favourable conditions for cottonproduction, and how successful methods used elsewhere might be adopted there. ‘It is unlikely that technologiesdeveloped for a condition in a specific environment for a particular countrywould be suited for other conditions a different environment in anothercountry’, he said, ‘but inspiration can strike, and lessons can always belearned’.
The first feature article, which stretches across 10pages, was authored by Dr. Kranthi, Lawrence Malingaof South Africa’s ARC Institute for Industrial Crops, and Cotton Research Institute in Zimbabwe. Itprovides a comprehensive overview of the proceedings and recommendations fromthe 14th meeting of the Southern and Eastern Africa Cotton Forum(SEACF), as well as photos from the event, which was held in July.
The second feature is entitled, ‘Novel Ideas to EnhanceCotton Production and Value of By-products in Africa’. It is a compilation ofthe thoughts of six cotton professionals who share their proposals forenhancing cotton production in Africa and increasing the value of cottonby-products.
The third feature, ‘Hope and Scope forEnhancing Cotton Production in Africa’, was written by M. Sabesh of the ICAR-CICR in Coimbatore, India. In addition to anoverview of the continent’s cotton sector, he discusses varietal improvementand seed technologies; agronomic practices, and pest and disease management.
The fourth and final article was authored by Dr. Kranthiand addresses ways in which ‘A Change in Plant Architecture Can Break Yield Barriers inAfrica’. He highlights the importance of best practices, including topics suchas canopy management, planting geometry, soil health and pest management.
To view the ICACRecorder, in English, French and Spanish, please click:
http://www.icac.org/TechnicalInformation/Articles?ArticleTypeId=13
The International Cotton Advisory Committee (ICAC) wascreated to assist members in fostering a healthy world cotton economy. The roleof the ICAC is to raise awareness, to provide information, and to serve as acatalyst for cooperative action on issues of international significance.