Based on the findings of a study conducted to address the raw cotton shortage faced by the textile industry, the Ethiopian government has approved import of pest-resistant cotton seeds, the African Press Agency (APA) has reported. The study suggested that importing improved variety of cotton seeds can increase the country’s cotton output by up to 40 per cent, according to the Ethiopian Textile Industry Development Institute (ETIDI). In recent years, the number of textile and garment units has increased in Ethiopia which has resulted in acute shortage of raw cotton. This shortage, along with low quality of domestic cotton, is affecting the textile industry which is unable to operate at its full capacity, according to the Ethiopian Textile and Garment Manufacturers Association.
