sudan barakat

The production of Sudan extra long staple cotton has a long tradition, going back to colonial times. The main ELS variety is called Barakat. It is primarily planted in the Gezira region between the Blue Nile and the White Nile, about 200 km south-east of the capital Khartoum. An exiguous quantity is also grown in the Tokar area, south of Port Sudan.

Sudan Barakat is irrigated, 100% handpicked and gently ginned on old, but well maintained roller gins. The top-type 1GB (or GB) has a staple length of around 1.1/2” and a strength of 37 - 39 gpt (HVI). The subsequent grades (XG2B, G2B, XG3B, G3B, XG4B, G4B, XG5B, G5B, XG6B and 6GB) are decreasing accordingly in grade, staple and strength. The micronaire of the majority of Sudan Barakat is between 3.6 and 4.3. A notorious problem is the occasional honeydew contamination, caused by the white fly; however the stickiness of Sudan Barakat is much lower when compared to Sudan upland cotton of the Acala variety, due to a different nature of the plant and another growing cycle.