Fixing Cotton Price Encourages Farmers to Increase Production

Khartoum - The government decision to set the promotional minimum price of Cotton crop at 600 SDG one Pound (Barakat) cotton and at 500 SDG a Pound (Kala) Cotton and to receive the cotton in the production areas will support the farmers to promote and to increase the production of Cotton crop in the coming season.

Minister of agriculture Dr. Abdul Halim Al-Mutaafi stated that they adopted these prices after reviewing the international prices of Cotton adding that it is the minimum prices which could increase according to the international changes to the farmers' benefits. We aim to encourage the farmers to increase the areas of cultivating Cotton, said minister Al-Muttaafi and pointed to the receipt of the crop of Cotton Flower from the farmers directly.

Planting Cotton long staple (the White Gold) finds great interest in Sudan, as its prices increased four time than the Cotton of short- staple in the international markets ( the staple means the measure of yarn length which made from cotton).

The Ministry of Agriculture asserted its keenness to return Cotton as strategic crop in the coming period and declared that the ministry adopt some preparations and plans in cooperating with farmers and the Sudanese Company of Cotton to develop these cash crop through promoting and increasing the areas of agriculture in the country. While the crop of cotton topped among the Sudanese exports before the oil exploring in the few last years.
 
Historians were disagreed on the date of cultivating cotton in Sudan, but most studies pointed to Tokar region in the state of Red sea was the first areas. Then the operations of planting cotton were expanded in the irrigated projects in the Gezira Scheme, regions of Blue and White Nile states and New-Halfa regions addition to the Rain-watered lands in Nuba -Mountains and other areas.

Commercially, the importance of crop of cotton began to appear in the Nineteenth century. Sudan became well-known with this crop after building the Sinnar dam and accomplishing Gezira scheme and created international reputation when the British companies of Lancashire depended on importing the Sudanese Cotton till it reached to France, West & East Europe states, Asian states and Japan.

while the production of cotton in years 2008-2009 in the two projects New-Halfa and     Gezira scheme reached to (55.000)bales in a decreasing of 62,3% from the production of seasons 2008-2009 .

In a report issued by the Board of Directors of the Sudanese Cotton company explained that the total income of years 2009-2010 estimated of (6,826) million SDG comparing with (4,352) million SDG in years 2008-2009.

The projects of New-Halfa, Gezira Scheme and Al-Rahad project are the most important regions of cotton crop production, which considered the main economic pillars in the country due to their high production addition to their accumulative administration al and technical experiences.

In Al-Rahad agricultural Project, planting cotton was stopped since 2008 but the farmers returned strongly to cultivate cotton in the recent season in an area of 51.000 feddan from the total suggested area of 65.000 feddan.

In spite of the Sudan's total production reached to 1.3 million bales in the nineteenth but it declined to 130 million bales due to the lack of finance and production inputs explained the report and declared that all concerned bodies are keen to regain the important and pioneered role of cotton crop, particularly that cotton provides huge income of hard currency, which contribute in the national economy. The report remarked that Cotton Company planed to increase the cultivated areas of cotton in the country to one million and 200.000 feddan to the year 2013-2014 comparing with 400.000 of the recent season.

On his part asserted the Minister Al-Mutaaffi that his Ministry provided all necessary production inputs and target to increase the cultivated areas of cotton crop in both the irrigated and rain-fed sectors.

The report remarked that Cotton Company planed to increase the cultivated areas of cotton in the country to one million and 200.000 feddan in the year2013-2014 comparing with 400.000 of the recent season.

On his part asserted the minister Al-Mutaaffi that his ministry provided all necessary production inputs and target to increase the cultivated areas of cotton crop in both the irrigated and rain-feed sectors?

The report remarked that Cotton Company planed to increase the cultivated areas of cotton in the country to one million and 200.000 feddan during the year 2013-2014 comparing with 400.000 of the recent season.

On his part asserted the minister Al-Mutaafi that his ministry provided all necessary production inputs and target to increase the cultivated areas of cotton crop in both the irrigated and rain-fed sectors adding that the company had surpassed all impediments to be ready for the coming period and hoped that the farmers concentrate their efforts to increase production, particular after entering the experiences of genetically modifying cotton.

The company expected that the income of exporting cotton this year in the total area of 400.000 feddan finance by the company will reach to 700 Million US dollar.