The country produced a record of 0.152 million (1.52 lakh) bales of cotton in the just-concluded fiscal year (2014-15), marking a 5.47 per cent growth as compared to the previous year’s production. In the FY 2013-14, the country produced about 144,616 bales of cotton from 41,498 hectares of land. “The production was higher in the last fiscal because cotton was cultivated on more land with the introduction of high technology and hybrid seeds,” said Dr. Farid Uddin, Executive Director of Bangladesh Cotton Development Board (BCDB). According to BCDB data, 152,534 bales of cotton were produced from about 42,700 hectares of land which were brought under cotton cultivation in the last fiscal (2014-15). Only 42,380 bales of cotton were produced from 28,707 hectares of land just seven years ago (2007-08). “During the last season, farmers grew cotton on more lands and used hybrid seeds than the previous year and they yielded good output,” said BCDB chief executive. “There has been a remarkable increase in cotton production in the country due to use of hybrid seeds and introduction of modern technologies. The yield increased by twofold or threefold due to use of hybrid seeds imported from China,” said the executive director. “Our aim is to raise the production several times instead of increasing the acreage,” he added. Despite a substantial increase in production in last few years, the amount of cotton produced in the country is still quite inadequate compared to national demand. At present, the country needs about 5 million bales of cotton to meet the demand for its textiles sector. But the domestic production can hardly meet 3-5 per cent of the country’s total demand. About 95 per cent of the demand is met by imported cotton. Bangladesh usually imports cotton from neighbouring India, central Asia, the USA, Brazil, Australia and Africa. “But outsourcing is not always smooth and very often puts big impact due to fluctuation in cotton prices in the international market,” said an official of Bangladesh Textiles Mills Association (BTMA). According to BTMA, the country imports more than 4.5 million bales of cotton worth over US$ 2 billion every year. Of 42,700 hectares of land brought under cotton cultivation in the last fiscal, some 26,320 hectares were cultivated on plain land while the rest of 16,380 on highland. “Of the plain lands, some about 15 per cent were brought under hybrid cotton cultivation with the use of hybrid seeds,” said Farid Uddin while talking to the FE. The farmers now feel encouraged to use hybrid seeds, especially Chinese hybrid variety, he added. Hybrid seeds came at a time when the cotton production was gradually declining because of lack of farmers’ interests. The cotton production in the FY 2005-06 stood at 77,000 bales from 49,770 hectares of land, but it dropped to 70,530 bales (from 42,100 hectares) in 2006-07. Production of cotton in 2007-08 faced serious setback as it was only 42,380 bales (28,707 hectares), but again rose to 50,175 bales (32,600 hectares) in 2008-09. Since then, production of cotton continued increasing. According to analysts, lower income from existing HYV discourages the farmers to grow cotton as they have other options for better gains-maize, vegetables, banana and flower. But stakeholders now expect a boost in the farmers’ confidence with the advent of the hybrid seeds. Cotton is grown in 32 districts, mostly in Jessore, Jhenaidah, Kushtia, Chuadanga, Meherpur, Pabna, Tangail, Mymensingh, Rajshahi, Natore and Rangpur and hilly districts of Bandarban, Khagrachhari and Rangamati. Approximately sixty thousand farmers are involved in cotton production across the country and most of them have marginal and small holdings. In Bangladesh, cotton is generally grown as a rain fed crop. Two types of cotton-upland cotton and hill cotton-are grown in Bangladesh. The upland cotton is cultivated in the South western region, northern region and Central region covering some 32 districts out of 61 plane districts of Bangladesh. The course type of hill cotton is grown in three hill districts. Hill cotton is an indigenous variety and cultivated in Jhum system and used for handloom cloths. Medium staple cotton mainly, the upland cotton, is primarily used by the textile industry and also utilized by cottage industry and individual farm family. Cotton seeds are also used to extract edible oil in the oil industry. However, the use of cotton plant and its products include among other as fuel, as seed and fiber, as cotton seed cake, cotton seed oil, as yarn for textile, as rug and mattress etc..
