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Agro facility centres for cotton farmers mooted

Staff Reporter

Centres will have computer-based information systems

COIMBATORE: The Southern India Mills' Association-Cotton Development and Research Association (SIMA-CDRA) plans to establish agro facility centres for cotton farmers.

According to the association chairman J. Thulasidaran these centres will have computer-based information systems that will guide farmers on subjects such as nutrient deficiency, diseases and cotton sowing. The technology is already available with some of the cotton research associations and institutes. The association proposed to prepare a project in this regard soon.

He said that during 2005-2006, the area under cotton cultivation was 88.17 lakh hectares, as against 89.20 hectares the previous year. However, the yield was marginally higher at 467.5 kg a hectare in 2005-2006. The textile industry's consumption was 194 lakh bales in 2004-2005 and it increased to 213 lakh bales in 2005-2006. The spinning sector's capacity was going up, thus leading to higher demand for cotton.

Genetic engineering in cotton promised substantial benefits to cotton growers. It reduced the cost of cultivation and increased production.

Mr. Thulasidaran said in the case of Bt cotton, institutes should focus on developing varieties rather than hybrids. Seed technology training centres should be expanded through seed advisory systems.

The seed advisory centre of the association prepared bulletins on production and integrated pest management technologies.

Taking into account the projected growth of the textile industry in the country, the cotton sector should look at enhancing productivity and production to 35 million bales by 2010, he added. It should also improve the quality of cotton to international levels, reduce the cost of cultivation and make cotton cultivation profitable.

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