China : Cotton yield surge by 14% in 2006

In 2006, cotton yields in 12 major production bases touched new record with output of 85.1 kilograms per mu (15 mu equals one hectare), an increase of 13.8 percent compared to previous year.

According to experts, favourable weather, insect-resist cotton plantation and better management of cotton field are reasons behind the increase in output of cotton farming.

Production value per mu stood at 1207.52 yuan with surge of 7.5 percent, while net profits increased by 6.76 yuan to achieve 338.12 yuan per mu.

In 2006, cotton growing area also increased by 200,000 hectares after reaching 5.37 million hectares.

This increase in supply has drastically reduced cotton price in 12 bases such as Xinjiang and Shandong were value stood at 12.14 yuan per kilogram with a rise of 7.1 percent.