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Cotton production unravels
15 Aug 2003
Drought is threatening Australia's cotton production: in 2002-2003, production was halved to just 1.62 million bales, and in 2003-2004 this may drop to 1 million bales, less than third of normal.
The nation's cotton is grown in northern NSW and southern Queensland, one of the regions worst hit by the drought. Over the prior 40 years production had risen 300-fold due to cheap irrigation water. In 1996-1997 cotton growers used more water than all Australian households combined.
Cotton Australia launched its five-year plan on August 14. CEO Philip Russell said there were grim predictions of production falling below 1 million bales, compared with an average of 3.2 million bales before the drought. Mr Russell said the industry is looking to the Council of Australian Governments' summit on water reform this month to provide solutions better than confiscating water entitlements.
Cotton Australia's five-year plan aims to improve the efficiency of water use, lint quality and profitability.
The Age, 15/8/03.
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