As World Water Week kicks off in Stockholm, 31st August to 5th September 2014, CottonConnect warns that more support is needed for smallholder cotton farmers as they grapple with the effects of water scarcity, which could put the global cotton industry at serious risk.
The revival in yarn demand from China is a good omen for the Pakistan textile industry giving a boost to textile exports. The resurge in yarn demand has come as a sign of relief for the exporters who were worried over the waning global demand during the past one year, according to Seth Akber, senior vice chairman of All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (Aptma).
The increase in world consumption of cotton likely to bring revival in the Zimbabwean cotton industry as the cotton farmers are expected to benefit from the anticipated world demand since the development is set to boost the current cotton prices.
According to the International Cotton Advisory Committee (Icac) an association of governments of cotton producing, consuming and trading countries, with polyester and cotton prices converging, world consumption of cotton is forecast to increase by 5% to 24,5 million tonnes in 2014/15.
The Punjab based textile industry needs immediate attention of the government, as continuity of the industry wheel can be the only way forward of growth, employment and exports of country for which both energy affordability and security must be ensured at all costs.
With the revival of monsoon, sowing operations for cotton has gathered momentum but yet to catch up pace across the country compared with the previous year, However, similar acreage is expected this year as well.
The Zimbabwean textile industry requires at least $200 million in the short to medium term to recapitalize, this was revealed by the Zimbabwe Economic Policy Analysis and Research Unit (Zeparu) based on the research study conducted on the Zimbabwean cotton and clothing industry. But, the biggest challenge for the Zimbabwe government with global competitive pressure is to find a way out to make the most of the cotton resource to industrialize in the context of a liberal market.
Cotton growers hit hard in Tiruchi and Perambalur districts due to poor rain and higher incidence of disease damaging the crops. A new disease had hit cotton crops in the region and Bt cotton growers had suffered severe loss due to the disease. They have not witnessed such disease in the past and the State government should conduct an exclusive study on Bt cotton and evolve remedial measure, said S. Raja Chidambaram, State secretary, Tamizhaga Vivasayigal Sangam.
