Though Bangladesh enjoys the tag of being the second largest readymade garment exporter globally, it still has to make its place in cotton production as it is one of the leading cotton importers in the world. Producing merely 1 per cent of the total requirement of cotton for making yarns and fabrics for apparel industry, the country has not been able to keep pace with cotton production. However, it is now heading towards brighter future as its Cotton Development Board plans to increase cotton production.
Also Read – ICA offers support to Bangladesh cotton traders
“We can produce 1 million bales of cotton in 200,000 hectares of land, which would save 10 per cent to 15 per cent import costs,” said Executive Director of Cotton Development Board Md. Farid Uddin, adding that the board has already selected certain areas of Rajshahi, Naogaon and Chapai Nawabganj, for cotton cultivation as other crops cannot be grown there.
Emphasizing on the Government’s policy of not cultivating cotton where other crops are grown, Farid Uddin said, “We have places where we can promote cotton, like coastal areas where no other crops can be produced due to saline intrusion,” adding, “We are also targeting hilly areas as we have managed to utilise only 2 per cent of that region so far. We also want to promote cotton production in the areas where tobacco is being cultivated.”
Also Read – Bangladesh’s cotton import from India rises by 36% in 2015
The Executive Director of the Cotton Development Board also maintained that the Government has taken up a project for research and expansion of cotton production in the country.
