Cotton production increases
Sep 25, 2005
COTTON production has increased to 250,000 bales up, from 160,000 bales worth $37m.
COTTON production has increased to 250,000 bales up, from 160,000 bales worth $37m.
Vision Reporter writes that Jolly Sabune, the Cotton Development Organisation (CDO) managing director, said recently that farmgate prices of sh350 farmers earned an estimated sh45b countrywide.
“This was a direct contribution by the cotton sector towards poverty alleviation of rural households,†she said during a tour of Masindi.
Sabune said the increased production had been as a result of private sector’s support to farmers, which was in terms of clean seeds, planting materials and the continued supervision.
“Last year, CDO provided farmers with 50% of the clean graded seeds.
“This year, we intend to give 70% and then 100% such that we meet our target of one billion bales in the next six years,†she said.
She however said at the commencement of the marketing season 2004/2005, the cotton sector was hit by the problem of collapse of the world market price for lint by nearly 50% compared to the previous year.
“This in turn led to the collapse of the domestic farm-gate price and the government had to intervene with a cotton subsidy in order to stabilise the domestic farm-gate price at sh350 per kg of cotton,†she said.
Janat Mukwaya the agriculture minister said under the Plan for Modernization of Agriculture (PMA) farmers should utilise the smallest land available for increased production.
“The ever-increasing population has in turn led to increased pressure on land so for the country to benefit from its agricultural sector improved seeds which are high yielding have to be adopted,†said Mukwaya. Ends.../
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Vision Reporter writes that Jolly Sabune, the Cotton Development Organisation (CDO) managing director, said recently that farmgate prices of sh350 farmers earned an estimated sh45b countrywide.
“This was a direct contribution by the cotton sector towards poverty alleviation of rural households,†she said during a tour of Masindi.
Sabune said the increased production had been as a result of private sector’s support to farmers, which was in terms of clean seeds, planting materials and the continued supervision.
“Last year, CDO provided farmers with 50% of the clean graded seeds.
“This year, we intend to give 70% and then 100% such that we meet our target of one billion bales in the next six years,†she said.
She however said at the commencement of the marketing season 2004/2005, the cotton sector was hit by the problem of collapse of the world market price for lint by nearly 50% compared to the previous year.
“This in turn led to the collapse of the domestic farm-gate price and the government had to intervene with a cotton subsidy in order to stabilise the domestic farm-gate price at sh350 per kg of cotton,†she said.
Janat Mukwaya the agriculture minister said under the Plan for Modernization of Agriculture (PMA) farmers should utilise the smallest land available for increased production.
“The ever-increasing population has in turn led to increased pressure on land so for the country to benefit from its agricultural sector improved seeds which are high yielding have to be adopted,†said Mukwaya. Ends.../
Ends