Cotton+ is a program that promotes the higher-quality cotton produced by Thrakika Ekkokkistiria S.A. The program is implemented through a series of services offered exclusively to the producers participating in it.
The Cotton+ framework includes cotton varieties with top quality characteristics. This particular cotton is collected, stored and ginned separately, maintaining all the quality characteristics that set it apart from conventional cotton.
During the farming period, the company's agronomists pay regular visits to the plots of Cotton+ farmers and make sure that all the appropriate procedures are followed in order for the farmers to grow a sustainable and quality product.
For the year 2018-2019, the cotton varieties that are highlighted for their characteristics and have been included in the Cotton+ program are the following:
Fibermax (CSF program)
- Cotton of particularly high quality
- Process certification (growing and ginning) by two independent bodies (Aeiforiki and Qmcert)
- Traceability (a map highlights the plots and all the basic information for the crop)
- Smart farming (weather stations and data collection - tips on irrigation, nutrition and disease management)
- Special packaging
- Click here to read the annual report for 2018/19
Deltapine
- Process certification (growing and ginning) by Novacert auditing body
Elpida
- High quality cotton
- Special packaging
- Greek variety by Spyrou company
Carisma
- High quality cotton
- Variety by Progen company
9811
- Variety with particularly high lint yield
- Variety by K&N Efthimiadis company
All the bales produced by the aforementioned varieties are marked with a special "Cotton+" sticker.
All the bales from the Cotton+ program are tested at the HVI laboratory and their characteristics are documented. The HVI data from the bales are available to buyers.
The table below shows the results from the quality control laboratory for the Cotton+ varieties for the year 2018/2019:
Advantages for cotton farmers:
- Ability to fix seed cotton prices through the Futures Market throughout the year
- Funding of crop costs by the company or contract financing from the bank
- Additional crop insurance
- Implementation of smart farming system
- Ability for custom ginning
- Participation in European programs aiming to increase crop yields, decrease production costs, improve quality and minimize environmental impact
- Special information provided by the company for all issues related to cotton and in particular the global cotton market
- Additional services provided by Thrakika Ginning Mills such as free medical check-ups
Click here to read more about Cotton+ in 2022.