Cotton: The first step to defend common interests of the sector
Producers and ginners drive the creation of interprofessional cotton in Spain. Improve the product, adapt to demand and set a differentiated strategy promotion are the main objectives of the association. The sector remains assumes that advance quality, enhance the fiber and maintaining the value of cottonseed.
Professional agricultural organizations (ASAJA, COAG and UPA), ginners associations (AEDA and ADESUR) and cotton Paloma Blanca today have formed an association which is the first step in creating the Interprofessional Cotton. The aim is to defend the interests of the cotton sector, both in its production and in processing and marketing. Once established the association, they have submitted their statutes to the general director of Agricultural Production of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Rural Development, Rafael Olvera, so that it can be recognized as Interprofesional.
This partnership aims to become a permanent meeting point, in which all participants can discuss and make decisions binding on the sector, in order to ensure its viability.
All actions that are developed will seek to achieve three key objectives: progress in improving the quality of cotton (I + D + i, recommended in various stages practices, etc) adapt production to market demand (quality fiber, consumer protection and respect for the environment) and set a strategy for promoting differentiated quality cotton produced in Andalusia.
Today cotton occupies 65,000 hectares and is vital in rotations of 6,000 farms. It is the annual crop irrigated largest area (ahead of rice, corn and beet) and more labor generates: 800,000 wages.
Meanwhile, the ginning industry has a ginning capacity of 300,000 tons and holds 203 permanent jobs, to which must be added 530 possible.
In addition, cotton generates 30 million euros in rural areas for the work of collection and transport.
The sector’s contribution to final agricultural production is around 300 million euros. Fiber exports, which account for almost 90% of the total, are ranging around 70 million euros.
In short, it is a sector which must be fought because it is revitalizing the economy and generate employment in rural areas. It is, in fact, a sector traditionally develops in the Andalusian territory and has responded to the various circumstances by their professionalism and also to the demands of society, advancing sustainable production environmentally: integrated production has led to the elimination of plastic and 40% reduction in the use of fertilizers, 30% of irrigation water and has spent six pesticide treatments applied to only 2.5 treatments.
Despite this importance, the sector still has challenges faced:
-Avanzar As: establishment of best practices at each stage of production and processing, proper authorization defoliant to most of our productions (early), to promote R & D programs that translate into innovative processes in the industry, etc …
-Valorizar Fiber, mostly from cotton respectful with the environment, developing marketing strategies to provide adequate information to consumers.
-Keep The value of cottonseed.
