Sustainable practices have led to rise in US cotton yield – expert

23 Sep '10

2 min read

For over last 25 years, cotton producers in the US have succeeded in raising their yield, while cutting down on the use of water and land, an industry expert said. He also considered this as a march towards sustainable practices, which is likely top persist.

Cotton producers, if they desire to subsist and continue being a part of the industry even after 40 years, need to be efficient, gainful and inventive, Janet Reed, Associate Director of Agricultural Research at Cotton Inc., said while addressing around 100 textile and apparel management students at the University of Missouri.

Reed, along with 10 other cotton cultivators and sector experts was invited to address the Sustainable Cotton Summit, a conference organized by Cotton Inc., with funds from the Importer Support Program of the Cotton Board.

Jana Hawley, Chairperson of MU's Department of Textile and Apparel Management, here said that, the clothing sector is often blamed for raising environmental concerns, and for exploiting those who are less privileged. There is a need to exercise a check on such practices, and it is the firm's liability to see that they rationalize their earnings to serve environmental and social causes, she added.

Presenting a defence, Reed said that, the production process has undergone major changes, since institution of Cotton Inc. 40 years back. She further stated that, the cultivators besides cutting down on the use of land and water, now are also making less use of pesticides, and alongside are also exploring other uses of cotton.

By-products, which at one point of time were looked upon as waste items, are now being checked for multiple usages as for building material, as food for human or animal feed and as an alternate for Styrofoam, she said.

Fibre2fashion News Desk - India

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