This year’s lower cotton yield in the High Plains of Texas has impacted the cotton ginning sector. “Yield is about 30 per cent lower than what was expected earlier,” stated 46-year veteran in the sector Steve Moffett, general manager of Lubbock-based Lubbock Electric Company.
He was speaking at a special dinner organised in Lubbock, Texas where several executives of the ginning sector met to discuss the growth of the ginning industry over the past 30-years.
Another aspect of the discussion was how the seed turn out and weight has reduced over the years. This has helped with the productivity, stated Shankar Venkatachalam, president of Bajaj ConEagle, LLC,
“Ginning machinery has not seen a whole lot of changes with regard to its functionality,” quoted Ray Moore, a 31-year veteran with the industry. Certainly, productivity has increased from 25 bales per hour to 100 bales per hour added Moore of Bajaj ConEagle, LLC.
Utilisation of technology for productivity has supported the growth of the cotton ginning industry.Ginning contributes to the cotton sector by cleaning, drying and maintaining/enhancing the quality of the fiber. Ginning plays an important role in enhancing the quality of the fiber. The ginning industry should effectively utilise technologies such as image processing to control trash, contamination, etc.
As Bajaj ConEagle is a subsidiary of India-based Bajaj Steel Industry, discussions at the event focused on the Indian ginning sector, which is roller gin-based. “India should soon invest in saw gins to reduce trash content,” stated Shankar.
