Bangladesh Cotton Production Forecast up in 2013

Bangladesh cotton production is forecast at 120,000 (480lb) bales in 2013/14, up 11 percent from previous year. Please see figure 1. Area harvested is forecast to reach 45,000 hectares in 2013 as compared to 40,000 hectares in 2012. This 12.5 percent increase can be attributed to implementation of Bangladesh Cotton Development plans. The goal is to gradually convert 20,000 hectares from tobacco to cotton cultivation and increased cultivation of cotton in the saline prone coastal areas in the south.

Cotton yields are forecast to reach average levels from the previous year assuming favorable growing weather. Cotton yields in Bangladesh do not strongly follow a trend. Cotton production in Bangladesh is susceptible to excessive rainfall and flooding. In the last few years growing conditions have been favorable.
Please see figure 2.

Since 2009 the Bangladesh Cotton Development Board in conjunction with private seed companies has assisted farmers with introducing short duration and high yielding Chinese hybrid seeds.

Cotton is the second most important cash crop in Bangladesh after jute. Under normal conditions it can only meet three percent of the country’s demand for raw cotton that is used for yarn and textiles. It is planted in July, which coincides with the beginning of the moonson and harvest in December during the dry season.

Visit Crop Explorer http://www.pecad.fas.usda.gov/cropexplorer

Current USDA area and production estimates for grains and other agricultural commodities are available on IPAD's Agricultural Production page or at PSD Online.