Bailahongala is a taluk headquarters in the Belagavi district of Karnataka and a major cotton ginning center in North Karnataka.

The first cotton ginning and pressing mill was established in 1911. Cotton, sugarcane, jowar, and groundnut are the main agricultural products of the area. The black soil, which is highly suitable for cotton growing, was the primary reason for setting up a ginning center in this region. The Malaprabha River, which spreads and provides water to this region, supports the agriculture and enhances the fertility of the soil.

One of the town’s most significant contributions to the region’s economy is its cotton ginning and pressing industry.

I visited Shri  Mahantesh Ginning and pressing factory which started in 1929, in the heart of Bailhongala town and one of the oldest Ginning factory around this town. Cotton ginning mills marked a pivotal shift from manual cotton processing to mechanized efficiency. The mill played a crucial role during the pre-independence era, supporting the local economy and providing employment to many.

Every cotton season, trucks laden with raw cotton converge at the mill. The bales, heavy with the promise of soft, white fiber, are the raw materials that fuel the ginning process. The sight of these bales marks the beginning of a meticulous journey from farm to factory.

The heart of the ginning process is the gin machine. Its blades and rollers work in harmony to tease apart the seeds from the soft cotton fibers. This machinery, though aged, is well-maintained and operates with precision.

Once ginned, the cotton lint is transported to the pressing area. This transfer is a crucial stage, ensuring that the separated fibers remain clean and free from contamination and is transported through a conveyor to the pressing section.

In the pressing section, the ginned cotton is pressed using hydraulic machines to form perfect bales.

The final product, a tightly packed bale, emerges from the press. This bale represents the culmination of hard work and meticulous attention to detail, ready to be shipped to textile mills where it will be spun into yarn and woven into fabric.

Sangappa Mattikoppa, a machine mechanic worker at the mill for the last 30 years, embodies the spirit and dedication that has kept the mill operational for three decades.

The seeds, which are an byproduct of the ginning process, are collected and sold to merchants. Typically, merchants from Tamil Nadu visit and purchase them to extract cottonseed oil, which is used as a substitute for vegetable cooking oils.

Shiva is an avid field explorer of history and the environment and is Project Field Researcher at FAIR.