SICA sees cotton output up 15 per cent

The South India Cotton Association (SICA) expects total production for 2005-06 to be higher than the previous year by about 15 per cent.

The production of cotton crop in the country scaled new high for 2004-05, touching 232 lakh bales (3.944 million tonne).

At the association's 26th Annual General Meeting held in Coimbatore on September 11, C Soundararaj, president, said that with the removal of restrictions on import and export under World Trade Organisation (WTO) rules, the country foresees a vast growth opportunity and plans to have a cutting edge over China.

China, the closest competitor, produces only coarser varieties of cotton and yarn compared with finer varieties of cotton and yarn produced in India.

SICA plans to introduce new technology in the development of BT cotton seeds which are more profitable to farmers because of higher yields. SICA has also been interacting with cotton seed producers to reduce the pricesof BT cotton seeds.

The association, along with Super Spinning Mills, had organised a model cotton farm where the cultivation of extra long staple variety is being carried out using BT cotton seeds.