The Association of Sarva Seva Farms (ASSEFA) in India is currently working to revive 'Karungani cotton', an indigenous variety belonging to the species Gossypium arboretum, in Tamil Nadu’s Madurai district. About 300 farmers have come together for this project, ASSEFA’s director of education Nisha Subramaniam told Fibre2Fashion in an interview.
The association was founded in 1969 as an agency to provide guidance and assistance to allottees of land under the Bhoodan (gift land) Movement launched by Gandhian Vinobha Bhave for raising agricultural production on the newly-allotted lands.The Association of Sarva Seva Farms (ASSEFA) in India is currently working to revive 'Karungani cotton', an indigenous variety belonging to the species Gossypium arboretum, in Tamil Nadu's Madurai district. About 300 farmers have come together for this project, ASSEFA's director of education Nisha Subramaniam told Fibre2Fashion in an interview.#
Karungani is cultivated especially in the southern rain-fed districts of Tamil Nadu. It has the capacity to withstand drought and shows a high level of pest resistance. Farmers cultivate it through the mixed cropping system along with coriander, pulses, sorghum and castor.
Experiments on the fabric are under way and successful demonstrations reveal that fabric can be woven from this cotton, Subramaniam said. It can be used to create t-shirts by knitting and dhotis by weaving. (DS)
For full interview, please click here.
ALCHEMPro News Desk – India
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