Cotton growers in Ethiopia called for the establishment of a federal authority designated to address the industry at a consultative meeting with the representatives from the Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research and the ministries of Agriculture and Industry.
Their proposal was supported by representative from the textile factories, agriculture experts, entomologists, chemical and pesticide companies.
The need for a designated federal authority is due to complaints that the Ministry of Agriculture bureau designed to handle agriculture investment has been unable to address the issues affecting the industry.
The need for a separate authority was enhanced due to a recent surplus of production that was not anticipated by the projections. The surplus followed an increase in production to meet the demands of textile companies after a shortage last year.The Cotton Growers and Ginners Association is asking for a federal agency to eliminate similar problems in the future. The association has not received a response to the draft regulation it proposed although it had been told that the bill would be directed to the Cabinet explained Berhane Gebreyohannes, President of the Association.
The industry faces a range of challenges including access to seeds, skilled labor, pesticide control and undependable market that requires an independent entity it was said.
Problems also extend to seed supply and the type of seed available on the market with growers unhappy with what is being supplied. The seeds on the market will undermine the ability of Ethiopian cotton to compete on the international market or even to produce cotton of the quality required by the domestic textile factories said Berhane.
Source: Addis Fortune
