Cotton production reaches 70,000 bales
Saturday, 5 June 2010
The country witnessed lint cotton production of 70,000 bales in the current season including 2000 bales under hybrid cotton cultivation, reports UNB.
"In the 2009-10 season, some 31,500 hectares were brought under cotton cultivation and we have achieved expected production of 70,000 bales," said Deputy Director of Cotton Development Board (CDB) M Farid Uddin.
He said that in the current season cotton farmers used hybrid seeds in their fields for the first time and the output was very good.
Farid Uddin also said that of the total land, 289.5 hectares were brought under cultivation of two hybrid varieties - HSC-4 and DM-1.
Around 3-3.5 tonnes of seed cotton were harvested in each hectare (1 hectare = 2.47 acres) compared to two tonnes from traditional CB-9.
The lint cotton production in the 2008-09 season was not so encouraging as some 32,600 hectares were brought under the cultivation from where 50,175 bales of cotton were harvested.
In the current season, the farmers grew hybrid cotton after two local business houses - Supreme Seed Company and Lal Teer Seed - began marketing the Chinese variety of hybrid seeds.
"The fibre length of the hybrid variety is also better than the traditional one," said the CDB deputy director.
He also said that the CDB was planning to increase the production target to over 90,000 bales in the next season (2010-11) by bringing some 42,000 hectares under cultivation including hilly and plain areas.
Mr Farid Uddin said that a five-year CDB project to strengthen its research activities is also awaiting government nod for approval.
Under the proposed project from July 2010-June 2015, the hybrid variety of cotton seeds would be developed apart from developing technology.
The project titled 'Strengthening Research Activities of CDB' would be implemented at an estimated cost of Tk 180 million (18 crore), informed the CDB deputy director.
Besides, the manpower of the CDB would be increased including appointing more scientists, establishing one gene bank and two green houses.
Farid also said that they were planning to introduce a new traditional variety of CB11 from the next season apart from CB9. The CB11 variety, which is expected to be cost-effective with 3-3.5 tonnes production per hectare, will be less vulnerable to boll rot disease and can be harvested within 180 days.
He said that there was huge enthusiasm among the cotton farmers under hybrid seed cultivation in the current season in Kushtia, Jhenidah and Chuadanga districts. "The acreage under hybrid cultivation as well as the production will increase in the next season."
Of the existing traditional varieties of seeds like CB1, CB2, CB9 and CB10, the CB9 is cultivated on around 90 per cent of the total land, the CDB official said.
One kilogramme of DM-1 of Lal Teer seed costs around Tk 2,000. On the other hand, the price of traditional seed is Tk 15-20 per kg.
"Despite the huge additional cost, the hybrid seed is still profitable for the cotton farmers as it takes only 1.5-2 kg for per bigha, which is much lower than that of the traditional ones," said Fariduddin.
"In the 2009-10 season, some 31,500 hectares were brought under cotton cultivation and we have achieved expected production of 70,000 bales," said Deputy Director of Cotton Development Board (CDB) M Farid Uddin.
He said that in the current season cotton farmers used hybrid seeds in their fields for the first time and the output was very good.
Farid Uddin also said that of the total land, 289.5 hectares were brought under cultivation of two hybrid varieties - HSC-4 and DM-1.
Around 3-3.5 tonnes of seed cotton were harvested in each hectare (1 hectare = 2.47 acres) compared to two tonnes from traditional CB-9.
The lint cotton production in the 2008-09 season was not so encouraging as some 32,600 hectares were brought under the cultivation from where 50,175 bales of cotton were harvested.
In the current season, the farmers grew hybrid cotton after two local business houses - Supreme Seed Company and Lal Teer Seed - began marketing the Chinese variety of hybrid seeds.
"The fibre length of the hybrid variety is also better than the traditional one," said the CDB deputy director.
He also said that the CDB was planning to increase the production target to over 90,000 bales in the next season (2010-11) by bringing some 42,000 hectares under cultivation including hilly and plain areas.
Mr Farid Uddin said that a five-year CDB project to strengthen its research activities is also awaiting government nod for approval.
Under the proposed project from July 2010-June 2015, the hybrid variety of cotton seeds would be developed apart from developing technology.
The project titled 'Strengthening Research Activities of CDB' would be implemented at an estimated cost of Tk 180 million (18 crore), informed the CDB deputy director.
Besides, the manpower of the CDB would be increased including appointing more scientists, establishing one gene bank and two green houses.
Farid also said that they were planning to introduce a new traditional variety of CB11 from the next season apart from CB9. The CB11 variety, which is expected to be cost-effective with 3-3.5 tonnes production per hectare, will be less vulnerable to boll rot disease and can be harvested within 180 days.
He said that there was huge enthusiasm among the cotton farmers under hybrid seed cultivation in the current season in Kushtia, Jhenidah and Chuadanga districts. "The acreage under hybrid cultivation as well as the production will increase in the next season."
Of the existing traditional varieties of seeds like CB1, CB2, CB9 and CB10, the CB9 is cultivated on around 90 per cent of the total land, the CDB official said.
One kilogramme of DM-1 of Lal Teer seed costs around Tk 2,000. On the other hand, the price of traditional seed is Tk 15-20 per kg.
"Despite the huge additional cost, the hybrid seed is still profitable for the cotton farmers as it takes only 1.5-2 kg for per bigha, which is much lower than that of the traditional ones," said Fariduddin.