The Factual Demand and the Possibility of Self-reliant in Cotton Cultivation in Bangladesh

Abstract

The Bangladeshi garment is playing significant role in the country’s development from the last decades. Today the garment sectors are providing 82% of the national export and count USD 30 billion revenues these numbers represent the sector as the most important manufacturing industry in Bangladesh. Cotton is the oldest and most important of the textile fibers. It is the back bone of the world’s textile trade. Current survey shows that world production are about 25 million tones or 110 million bales annually, accounting for 2.5% of the world’s arable land. Cotton is regarded as the golden arm for Bangladeshi textile because about 65% textile fabrics are made from cotton every day. Bangladesh requires 4-4.5 million bales (1 bale=217.7 kg or 480 pounds) of raw cotton which is slightly increasing. But Bangladesh is lack behind fulfilling the demand as Bangladesh are producing 1-2% of cotton requirement through the local production every year which is far behind the need. The remaining 98-99% requirement is fulfilled by the imported cotton mostly from Uzbekistan, India, USA, African countries, Turkmenistan, Australia etc. It is not possible to be self-reliant in raw cotton production as our raw cotton demand is very high and there is a land shortage for cotton cultivation but it can possible of production of initially 10 lac bales and finally 20 lac bales without hampering food production which is 50% of our national demand of raw cotton requirement and can save foreign currency of TK 11000 core per annum.