Cotton Australia welcomes government pledge
23/06/2015
Michale Murray, director of Cotton Australia, said: “Government investment in the supply of reliable energy and water sources and efficient transport and freight links have the potential to incentivise investment in cotton ginning facilities further north of Queensland’s traditional cotton production areas, and right on the doorstep of the world’s textile manufacturing market.”
He added that farmers will choose their crops based on commodity prices, water and energy availability, and their proximity to processing facilities and export markets.
“It will be the combined results of research and development and government and private investment that will allow for northern farmers to consider cotton as a part of their summer crop rotations.
“The Australian cotton industry has a long-standing commitment to research and development-driven continuous improvements, realising a 40% increase in water use efficiency over the last decade, a 95% reduction in insecticide usage in the last 15 years, and it takes 30% less land to produce one tonne of cotton lint compared to 15 years ago.”
Cotton Australia is the body for Australia’s cotton growing industry, supporting over 1,500 cotton farming families.
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