COTTON GRADES CLASSIFICATION AND DETERMINATION.

1. DETERMINATION OF GRADE:

The grade of cotton is determined in terms of colour, leaf, and preparation.

2 The Standards are prepared in reference to the above factors. The Tanzania Cotton Grade Standards for grade "A" cotton are as follows:

3. Physical grade standards
a) TANG - Is the superior quality with the following physical characteristics
· Bright white colour
· Free from trash (leaf) content
· Fair to good preparation · No stains

b) GANY - Is the fair average quality with the following physical characteristics
· Slightly dullish white
· Minimum trash (leaf ) content
· Fair to good preparation
· Some slight stains

c) YIKA - Is the inferior quality with the following physical characteristics
· Dull white
· Slightly higher level of trash (leaf) content
· Fair to good preparation
· More pronounced stains

4 Descriptive grade standards
GANY+1/2 - Is superior than GANY but inferior to TANG
GANY-1/4 - Is slightly inferior to GANY
GANY-1/2 - Is inferior to GANY-1/4
GANY-3/4 - Is inferior to GANY-1/2 but slightly superior to YIKA
UG - Is below grade (under-grade)

5 Colour appearance
- Slight dull mixed stain (SDM).
This is cotton that had been in the field for a long time after balls opening whereby dust and other impurities get into the lint, thus changing its colour from pure white and that if the amount of such admixture is slight then it is termed as Slight Dull.

- Dull mixed stain (DM). The process is as aforesaid in a) but the admixture in this form is more excessive than in the aforesaid form in a).

- Stain. The term here means yellow staining and is caused by insects known as Cotton Stainers.

6 The basis of cotton grades assessments
Cotton grade is assessed on the basis of the above standards (i.e. 3.1.2 and 3.1.3). These official standards are the classer's guide. All cotton classers should concentrate on the official grade standards and should use them until they are familiar with each one.