Progress of scientific processing and estimated losses due to traditional processing of cottonseed

Cottonseed is considered as ‘Golden Goose’. Besides yielding wholesome oil, branded as ‘Heart Oil’, it yields other valuable by-products like linters, hulls and cottonseed extraction. However, a fairly large portion of oil and almost the entire quantity of by-products like linters, hulls are lost due to processing of cottonseed through the traditional method. It is palpable that India loses average worth about Rs. 30000 million every year due to the traditional processing of cottonseed. It is therefore, considered essential to shift from traditional to scientific processing of cottonseed in the larger interest of the Nation. This article elevates the amount of losses of valuable cottonseed by-products due to traditional processing and progress of scientific processing and provides possible remedies to curb glitches therein. Purpose: This part of research work highlights the facts about the estimated losses due to traditional processing of cottonseed and progress of scientific processing in the light of valuable cottonseed by-products. Design/methodology/approach: To make this paper more precise, the authors have adopted cottonseed processing data from different sources specifically AICOSCA Annual Reports and AICOSCA News Letters for the period 2000-01 to 2009-10 and precisely analyzed with necessary tables and charts. Findings: This article finds that 96% of the cottonseed in India is being processed simply by traditional crude method which causes huge loss average worth about Rs. 30000 million every year. Scientific processing facilitates controlling of these huge losses and make use at the larger interest of the Nation. Originality/value: This article provides useful information to the people who involved in the cottonseed processing industry with a concise analysis of progress of scientific processing of cottonseed and estimated losses due to traditional processing of cottonseed.