SIMA insists to improve ELS cotton production
The Southern India Mills Association Cotton Development and Research Association (SIMA-CDRA) has called for efforts to improve extra long staple (ELS) cotton production in the country.The annual ELS production in the country is about three lakh bales and requirement is nearly 10 lakh bales. The vision statement of the Confederation of Indian Textile Industry envisages the need to go up to 20 lakh bales by 2015. Apart from the domestic production, the requirements are met through imports. According to a release from the association, the quality of the domestic ELS cotton should be improved for problems such as poor fibre properties, admixture with inferior cotton varieties and high trash and contamination.The quality should be improved to be on a par with international varieties like the Egyptian GIZA or the U.S. Pima. Steps should be taken to establish the Indian ELS cotton brand in the international market. A special purpose vehicle with public and private partnership should be established to promote ELS cotton, the association has suggested. The association has also taken up a programme for restoration of the Suvin variety.It is also planning a 100-acre trial production plot for organic cotton production. It has pointed out cotton consumption in the country is increasing annually and it is expected to be about 350 lakh bales by 2010.
