NATORE. July 6: Cotton production in Rajshahi zone which included Natore is being hampered due to lack of credit facilities. scarcity of quality seeds and problems in marketing.

According to official sources. 6,000 bales of cotton are being produced on an average in Rajshahi zone comprising ten thanas of Natore, Rajshahi and Naogaon districts annually.

A total of 6.500 acres of land against the target of 8.000 acres have been brought under cotton cultivation this year in 16 units of the zone, fixing the production target at 6.700 bales of cotton. the sources said.

A local expert said that cotton cultivation is more profitable than that of other cash

crops like sugarcane and Jute. "If proper steps are taken, more 12.000 acres of land could be brought under cotton cultivation in the zone," he said, adding that there are 20.000 acres of land in the zone suitable for cotton cultivation, of which 15.000 acres of land are economically viable.

Said Rejaul Karim, a cotton Sower at Bagatipara thana of atore: The per acre production cost of cotton is estimated at Tk 5.000 to Tk 5.500. But most of the small and marginal farmers are unable to afford the production cost.

Official sources said that scarcity of quality cotton seeds is a stumbling block for cotton production.

The total demand for quality

seeds is estimated at about 600 maunds for Rajshahi zone. Whereas the cotton Develop-mend Board (CDB) supplies a maximum of 300 maunds every year. So far. the CDB has purchased about 2.500 maunds of cotton against its procurement target of 4.000 maunds of cotton this year.

The CDB procures cotton directly from the growers at the rate of Tk 1,040 per maund to ensure the supply of quality seeds.

But growers show less Interest to sell their produce to the CDB as the private traders pay more for the same.

The traders at local markets are buying cotton atTk 1.100 to Tk 1.200 per maund.