The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAG), Government of Paraguay, has issued recommendations to cotton growers in the country, according to a Ministry press release.
Ubaldo Britos, the Cotton Program Coordinator at the MAG, recommended that cotton producers consult their local Agricultural Extensions for correct assistance and thereby ensure better crop management for both conventional and transgenic cotton.
A new pest called Helicoverpa, which is affecting cotton crop in Brazil and Argentina, is now started appearing in some areas in Paraguay, and hence producers should use appropriate pesticide, the statement said.
The MAG investigation found that cotton growers would have the opportunity to control weeds if herbicide is applied between 15 and 25 days after sowing.
The first rain is expected by November 20, and by that time first weeding must be completed, Mr. Britos said.
He said that prices for the next cotton crop could improve slightly, as international market prices have so far been in good perspective, and may improve somewhat compared to last year.
The MAG clarified that it would not provide inputs for cotton production this year, as the state has ceased to be the supplier of inputs for cotton, which has now been placed exclusively in the hands of the private sector.
The Cotton Program Coordinator expects Paraguay’s cotton area this year to reach 30,000 hectares, with between 18,000-20,000 families participating in cotton growing.
During the 2012-13 season, cotton production in Paraguay dipped to around 43,000 tons compared to harvest of about 82,000 tons of cotton in the previous season, as drought affected the northern part of the country at the beginning of the year, and also because cotton sowing was delayed due to the late arrival of transgenic (GM) seeds.
The decrease in production also led to a significant decline of 39.4 percent in Paraguay’s cotton exports last season, which stood at US$ 20.3 million compared to the previous season’s earnings of US$ 33.5 million.
From January to July 2013, the Central Bank of Paraguay recorded total cotton shipments at 10,917 tons, registering a drop of 40.5 percent over 18,348 tons of exports recorded during the same period of last year.
