Center

Cotton output per unit hits record

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2007-03-02 11:12

China's cotton yields in its 12major production bases scored new record in 2006, with output hitting 85.1 kilograms per mu (15 mu equals one hectare), up 13.8 percent from a year earlier, the top economic planning body announced Thursday.

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Experts said the rising yields were mainly supported by favorable weather, wide spread of insect-resist cotton plantation. and enhanced management in the cotton field.

Production value per mu surged 7.5 percent to stand at 1,207.52 yuan, while net profits increased by 6.76 yuan to reach 338.12 yuan per mu, according to theNational Development and Reform Commission.

China's cotton-growing area totaled 79 million mu (5.27 million hectares) in 2006, an increase of 3 million mu (200,000 hectares) on a year ago.

Despite rising growing costs, cotton price in the 12 bases includingXinjiangandShandongdropped 7.1 percent to 12.14 yuan per kilogramme thanks to the growing supply.

The rising output will help satisfy surging demand for cotton in China where textile industry takes up heavy weight in the country's export.