Xinjiang shrinks cotton cultiviting area

02 Mar '07

2 min read

Largest cotton producing area in the country, Xinjiang, has started to reduce cotton acreage this year. Xinjiang's cotton planting area this year is intended to be 18.92 million mu, representing a decrease of 160,000 mu. (One hectare = 15 mu)

In recent years, Xinjiang cotton acreage remained at about one-third of the total cotton planting areas in China. Their seven major indicators, such as cotton acreage, output, the average yield, low-cost of pest control by chemicals and others, have ranked the first for 14 years in China. The average yield is 42 percent higher than the average level in China.

However, according to the Xinjiang Development and Reform Commission statistics, Xinjiang cotton farmers have never been able to reap generous returns from cotton growing. Although Xinjiang cotton output in 2006 reached 2.18 million tons, the highest level in history, relevant statistics showed the annual average net profit of Xinjiang's cotton planting was only 378 yuan per moa slight decrease over the previous year, much lower than the income generated by the development of orchards and feeding industries.

At present, Xinjiang is stepping up the readjustment of agricultural structure, vigorously develops modern agriculture with economic characteristics, so to change the status of single income source for farmers in Xinjiang.

Fibre2fashion, News Desk - China

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