Dr. Hisham Massad, an international expert in the field of sustainability at the Cotton Research Institute at the Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation, confirmed that most of the cotton crop is good this year, and that the crop that coincides with the peak of flowering with high temperatures will have some effect, while the rest of the crop is promising, as the temperature rises in some stages of flowering. .
Massad told Al-Dustour that the crop is scheduled to be marketed this year according to the system used in the 2020 season, during which marketing is done through public auctions, indicating that at the global level, it is expected that there will be a global demand for Egyptian cotton in the new season. It is also expected that prices will rise this year compared to last year as a result of the global and local demand for Egyptian cotton.
The global cotton expert explained that cotton areas decreased this year by 30% compared to last year, and that this decrease will affect the prices of the crop and that the prices will be remunerative for farmers, indicating that the future of Egyptian cotton depends on the application of international and international initiatives and standards, as the world is currently heading towards globalization to implement standards. And the purchase of cotton with international standards and specifications in line with sustainability, environmental protection and increasing biological awareness, pointing out that one of the most important initiatives is the “Rail Rail” initiative, which relies on a responsible environment and raising the standard of living.
For his part, Dr. Walid Yahya, Undersecretary of the Cotton Research Institute at the Agricultural Research Center at the Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation, confirmed that the cotton marketing season will start this month, as the cotton harvest season began in the governorates of Fayoum and Beni Suef in Upper Egypt, and the ministerial decision for the marketing system for the new cotton crop, season 2023, is issued within hours. \2024, as the preliminary indicators indicate an increase in the average productivity of the feddan crop from 9 to 10 quintals per feddan.
Yahya said in statements to “Al-Dustour” that the price of cotton this year is not expected to be less than the price of the guarantee set by the government, and that it will rise from this price, which is 4,500 pounds per quintal in the governorates of Upper Egypt, and 5,500 pounds per train in the governorates of Lower Egypt.