Cotton Association of India Holds Annual Meeting
January 21, 2010 The 87th Annual General Meeting of the Cotton Association of India (CAI) was held in Mumbai on December 31, 2009. The CAI has issued the following report on the proceedings of the meeting:
In his address to the members, CAI President Shri Dhiren N. Sheth spoke on a range of topics, including the domestic and global cotton scenario during the 2008-09 cotton season, demand for ban or restrictions on exports of cotton from India, the excellent progress on Technology Mission on Cotton, development of organic cotton, CAI’s positive role in international affairs, the rejuvenation of Committees, training programs under the “Learn with CAI” series, expansion of cotton testing services at various upcountry places, widening of the membership base of the Association and several other projects.
Sheth stated that the steep hike in minimum support prices vis-à-vis the highly depressed cotton prices in the global markets due to economic meltdown across the world seriously impacted the cotton economy in India in 2008-09 and, in particular, cotton exports were badly hit.
Speaking on the current cotton season of 2009-10, he stated that the overall area under cotton cultivation has hit the one crore (10 million) hectare mark and with the increase in acreage under Bt cotton, production during the current season was expected to be higher as compared to last season. Sheth also referred to demand for ban or restriction on exports of cotton by certain sectors of the cotton chain and stated that the Association had strongly opposed such unreasonable demand through several representations followed by personal meetings with the concerned Ministries and the Association will continue to follow this issue.
GET THE NEWSLETTER TODAY!
