New policies to revive cotton production

27 Sep '11

2 min read

The Sudanese Government has framed new policies to revive cotton production in the country and to bring cotton back to its eminent position in the national economy.

The new policies have been listed in a report tabled by Dr. Abdeen Mohammad Ali, Director of Sudan Cotton Company, before the General Assembly during the annual meeting.

Sudan Cotton Company plans to raise its cotton cultivation acreage from ongoing 2011-12 season's 400,000 acres to 800,000 acres during 2012-13 season, inclusive of area under manual irrigation and rain irrigation.

By 2013-14 season, it is planned to bring the total crop cultivation acreage in the country to at least 1 million acres.

The company is continuously extending assistance to the Corporation of Research and Agricultural Technology, which is active in developing new types of high productive standards to enhance the quantity as well as quality of the cotton produced in the country.

Moreover, two state-of-the-art units have been made functional at the new gins in Baharee and Rabak and new units would also be developed in the new gins in In Gazera and al-Rahad, the report stated.

The acquaintance of cotton cultivation in Sudan dates back to the 19th century when someone in the Toksar region of eastern Sudan cultivated cotton for the first time. However, commercial cultivation of the crop started only in 1905 in northern Sudan by way of a Zeidab Pilot Scheme.

Further, 1925 was a milestone year in production of irrigated agriculture in Sudan with the establishment of Sennar dam. It is since then that cotton has been identified as one of the foremost cash crops for the country.

Leading factories in Britain, apart from those in France, China, Japan and eastern and western Europe, depend on Sudanese cotton, which is known for its high quality standards, which bring it good international repute.

Fibre2fashion News Desk - India

More Textiles News - Sudan...