INFORMATION BULLETIN
How important is cotton in Philippine, economy?
Cotton is the primary source of fiber for the booming textile industry. It accounts about 53% of the total fiber requirement of the country's spinning mills.
What is the contribution of domestic cotton production to the lint demand of the spinning mills?
For the last 10 years (1991-2001) domestic production of cotton contributed an average of 7% of the total lint demand of the textile mills. Import volume averaged 56,922 metric tons valued at PhP 2.671 billion. This means that the country relies heavily on imports, averaging 94%, from the major cotton exporters such as the USA, Australia and Pakistan.
What are the problems plaguing the local cotton industry?
Cotton production is a technically feasible and economically viable industry in the Philippines as proven by almost two decades of research. Consider this: cotton growing in 1992 reached over 30,000 hectares yielding a total of 14,400 metric tons of lint. However, the advancement of the industry is marred by the following critical factors:
- Lack of credit to finance cotton production.
- Inadequate support from the local government units, specifically in extension delivery.
- Limited private sector participation.
- Decreasing prices over the past five years.
- Dwindling government support.
What is CODA's response?
The Cotton Development Administration (CODA) created through RA 8486 on 11 February 1998 serves as the cotton development authority in the country. Guided by its mandate, CODA envisions a sustainable private-led LGU assisted cotton industry, and an increasing proportion of our lint requirements competitively sourced locally. The attainment of this vision is through the implementation of the following core programs:
- Technology transfer and extension support to provide timely and adequate technical assistance towards the establishment a demand-driven, sustainable technology and cooperative-based cotton industry.
- Knowledge systems that will hasten the promotion of the local cotton industry and intensify the transfer and utilization of cotton production technologies and information.
- Germplasm and seed systems that will endeavor to make quality agricultural cottonseeds available to cotton farmers.
- Ginning and post-harvest services to provide farmers cooperatives an added value to their seedcotton harvest.
Research that is relevant and responsive to the fast changing environment. This program will focus on further improving the local commercial varieties in terms of yield, lint quality and pest resistance. Alongside will be the conduct of adaptability tests for cotton hybrids sourced from abroad, and the development of new varieties through biotechnology. Moreover, research shall improve existing production
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So far, what has CODA accomplished?
- CODA has developed high yielding cotton varieties, namely, UPL-C1, UPL-C2, UPL-C3, CRDI-1, CRDI-2 PSB-Ct8, PSB-Ct9, PSB-Ct10, and NSIC-Ct11. All of these are now recommended for commercial planting.
- Evaluated
two cotton hybrid NAVKAR 5 and Bioseed 6527under Philippine conditions
that yielded positive results. Registered and approved by the National
Seed Industry Council (NSIC) for commercial planting with the name NSIC-Ct12
and NSIC-Ct13, respectively.
- Collaborated with the Southeast Asian Regional Consortium (SEARC) on the regional evaluation of cotton varieties to fast track varietal development
- Developed and improved the cotton integrated pest management system.
- Developed an environment-friendly bio-pesticide from physic nut (Jathropa curcas).
- Improved crop productivity through sustained application of organic fertilizer
- Utilization of drip irrigation technology to improve seedcotton yield.
- Developed a prototype seed pelletizing machine. Undertook a feasibility study of large-scale cotton production in the Philippines.
- Provided different farmers' cooperatives and individual farmers with technical advice on cotton production.
- Established cotton demonstration farms to showcase new technologies and production systems.
- Conducted regular consultations with farmers and other industry stakeholders.
- Trained farmers leaders and LGU technicians on cotton production technology.
- Facilitated the availment of credit for farmer cooperatives.
- Produced nucleus, breeder, foundation seeds and facilitated the production of registered and certified seeds by accredited seed growers.
- Provided ginning services at low cost.