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From cotton exporter, Uganda becomes an importer
10 May '16
2 min read
Uganda's Southern Range Textiles Limited, which bought Nyanza Textile Industries Limited (NYTIL), has said it has started importing cotton from Tanzania because local production is not enough to meet its requirement.
William Okello, logistics manager of Southern Range Textiles, told journalists during the installation of new machines at the factory recently, that Uganda's cotton production which originally stood at 100,000 bales per annum, has plunged to 80,000 bales while the demand for cotton has shot up to 150,000 bales per year.
Uganda used to be a cotton exporter but the situation has now changed.
“Most of the areas which grew cotton in the east, north and south western Uganda, are now growing SimSim, sun flower, cassava and rice and this has reduced cotton production,” he said now they only have Kasese and Tanzania as sources of cotton.
Okello urged the Cotton Development Authority to encourage farmers to resume growing the crop. He said a host of factors have combined to deter farmers from cultivating cotton.
“It is labour intensive, costs of inputs such as pesticides and fertilisers are too expensive and yet the equipment we are commissioning today is meant to meet the national demand for fabrics,” he said. (SH)
William Okello, logistics manager of Southern Range Textiles, told journalists during the installation of new machines at the factory recently, that Uganda's cotton production which originally stood at 100,000 bales per annum, has plunged to 80,000 bales while the demand for cotton has shot up to 150,000 bales per year.
Uganda used to be a cotton exporter but the situation has now changed.
“Most of the areas which grew cotton in the east, north and south western Uganda, are now growing SimSim, sun flower, cassava and rice and this has reduced cotton production,” he said now they only have Kasese and Tanzania as sources of cotton.
Okello urged the Cotton Development Authority to encourage farmers to resume growing the crop. He said a host of factors have combined to deter farmers from cultivating cotton.
“It is labour intensive, costs of inputs such as pesticides and fertilisers are too expensive and yet the equipment we are commissioning today is meant to meet the national demand for fabrics,” he said. (SH)
Fibre2Fashion News Desk – India
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