The Hindu Business Line : `Promote Indian Cotton brand'

Cotton crop for 2006-07 is estimated at 270 lakh bales (170 kg each), while arrivals till December 31 were an estimated 112 lakh bales, as per the consensus arrived at the All-India Cotton Conference held on January 6 at Bathinda, Punjab's major cotton centre.

The Northern India Cotton Association (NICA) hosted the meeting under the aegis of the Mumbai-based East India Cotton Association (EICA). Over 300 delegates participated.

Gujarat's output was placed at 90 lakh bales followed by Maharashtra at 55 lakh bales and Andhra Pradesh 32 lakh bales. Northern States (Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan) accounted for 50 lakh bales of which 31 lakh bales had arrived till end-December.

Delivering his presidential address, Mr K.F. Jhunjhunwala, EICA President, pointed out that quality — focus area of the conference — was a critical factor in domestic and international cotton trade and it was gratifying that India has emerged as the world's third largest exporter, thanks, among other factors, to the splendid performance of Technology Mission on Cotton.

Given India's rising prominence in the global cotton sector, `Indian Cotton' should be promoted as a brand in the market, he said adding that EICA was eminently well-placed to act as the country's nodal agency for market and brand promotion.

Mr Rakesh Rathi, NICA President, said there was further scope for making technological improvements in ginneries. He demanded a steep reduction in the high rates of market cess in Punjab and Haryana as also exemption from payment of cess on export goods.

Presentations included stakeholder perspective (consumers, exporters, ginners, researchers), improvement in quality via instrumentation testing, futures trading and key issues in northern India.