Cotton-Harvest and storage

Cotton requires about 200 days to mature. The correct stage of harvest is when bolls burst fully. At that stage the kapas will start to hang-down.

The crop is harvested in three or four pickings over a period of time. It is advisable to do the harvesting only in the early morning. The kapas are harvested from the bolls.  The dry leaf and bracts if any attached to kapas are removed.

The kapas are dried in shade immediately after harvest. This is very much important to retain the colour. Drying in hot sun is not advisable as it affects the fiber strength and luster. After drying, the kapas should be graded, packed and stored.

The cotton plants are uprooted soon after last harvest to check pest build up.