Bangladesh's cotton output is estimated at 124,000 bales during the current season, which constitutes only a negligible quantity as compared to the country's huge demand of 1.5 million bales.

Some 50,000 hectares of land were brought under cultivation in this regard, of which some 35,000 hectares of land would produce 115,000 bales of American variety of cotton while 15,000 hectares to produce 9,000 bales local variety of cotton, local daily New Age reported on Tuesday.

Agriculture Minister MK Anwar asked Bangladesh Agriculture Research Council to review the feasibility of cotton farming in the present day situation and said the farmers would continue cotton farming only when they would find it profitable.

Cotton growers urged the government to develop such cotton seeds that offer cotton harvest in a short duration from the present harvest duration of six months.

Cotton farmers were provided with loans of 7 million taka (107, 700 US dollars) in the current season both from banks and Cotton Development Board as well as seeds at a reduced rate to encourage them in cotton farming, the daily said.

Xinhua