The Hindu Business Line : Coimbatore to host national cotton meet

COIMBATORE will host a two-day conference on `Challenges facing cotton trade' during February 21-22 as part of the all-India cotton traders' conference organised by the East India Cotton Association and hosted by South India Cotton Association (SICA).

The technical session on the first day will review the progress of contract farming in cotton with presentations from practitioners of contract farming system who will share their experience in raising production and productivity.

In addition, a session on genetically engineered cotton (which is becoming increasingly popular among Indian farmers) will discuss the benefits of technology-driven cultivation of cotton.

Thirty-four per cent of world cotton exports comprise the genetically engineered variety, Bt cotton. In India, the area under Bt cotton has expanded from 40,000 hectares to about one-lakh hectares this season, SICA said in its release, adding that representatives of seed companies will make presentations on the subject.

At the all-India traders' meet on February 22, topics such as cotton financing, textile industry post-WTO, challenges in cotton import and export trade and so on will be discussed by experts.

Dr R. Kannan, Agricultural Production Commissioner and Secretary to the

Government of Tamil Nadu; Mr M.B. Lal, Advisor to Technology Mission on Cotton; Dr B.K. Krishnaraj Vanavarayar, Chairman of Indian Cotton Mills' Federation; Mr B. Vijay Venkataswamy, Chairman of South India Mills' Association, and several experts apart from processors, traders and other stakeholders are expected to participate.