Hubei cotton market

Hubei High-quality Cotton Industry Association organized members of the cotton expert steering group to conduct field research on cotton production in six counties and cities, including Tianmen, Zhongxiang, Shayang, Songzi, Jingzhou and Hanchuan. The survey results show that cotton production in this province has started well at present. Mainly in five aspects:

First of all, farmers are highly motivated to grow cotton.

As the price of cotton hit a record high last year, farmers' income from cotton planting increased substantially, which mobilized the enthusiasm of farmers in the main cotton producing areas. Wherever the expert group went, farmers in cotton-growing areas regarded planting cotton as the main way to increase their income this year. Mainly manifested in: First, farmers do not hesitate to buy seeds at high prices and prepare seeds early. The sales price of cottonseed this year is generally higher than last year. A few varieties pass through commercial speculation, and the price per kilogram is as high as 100 yuan. Farmers are still eager to buy them, and the time to buy them is before the Spring Festival. According to the investigation of Zhongxiang Agricultural Bureau, Jiukou Town plans to plant 80,000 mu of cotton, and nearly half of the farmers buy high-priced hybrid cotton F 1 seeds. More than 60% farmers in the city bought seeds before the Spring Festival, which is rare in recent years. Second, the management of cotton nutrition bowl seedbed is fine, and the quality of reserved cotton rows is high. Farmers everywhere spray, fertilize and move cotton seedbeds. The technology is applied in place and the management is fine. The reserved cotton rows have been applied with base fertilizer, so that the soil is soaked in grass, the rows are leveled and the soil is fine, and the ditches and roads are smooth. Third, the investment in cotton fields has increased. According to the investigation of Jingzhou Agriculture Bureau, although the price of agricultural materials increased by more than 15%, the amount of basic fertilizer and plastic film applied by farmers in cotton fields increased by 20% year-on-year. A farmer in the old factory village of Mishi town in this area used 3 bags of ammonium bicarbonate, 3 bags of calcium superphosphate and 2 bags of compound fertilizer as base fertilizer, which was 40% higher than last year.

Second, the cotton planting area showed a recovery growth.

This year, the cotton planting area in the main cotton producing areas has resumed growth, and the area of key cotton-producing towns has steadily increased. According to the reports of six county, city and district agricultural bureaus, the planned cotton planting area this year is/kloc-0.4 million mu, an increase of 80,000 mu or 6% over last year. Jiukou Town, Zhongxiang City, and Mishi Town, Jingzhou District, where cotton production is concentrated, plan to plant 80,000 mu and 70,000 mu of cotton, an increase of 5,000 mu respectively over last year.

Third, the planting area of the main varieties in Hubei Province has increased, while the northern varieties have decreased significantly.

This year, all localities have conscientiously implemented the spirit of the Notice of the Provincial Department of Agriculture on Strengthening the Advertising Management of Crop Seeds and the Notice on Effectively Strengthening the Management of the Spring Sowing Seed Market in 2004, increased the publicity of the announcement of major cotton varieties issued by the Provincial Department of Agriculture, and strengthened the rectification and management of the cotton seed market, and achieved remarkable results. From the interviews with farmers and the observation of cotton seedling growth, it can be seen that cotton varieties that have not been jointly evaluated (recognized) by Hubei Crop Variety Approval Committee in northern cotton areas have been effectively curbed. For example, Xinji 668 and Standard Cotton 1, which caused serious cotton production reduction in some areas of the province last year, were basically not found. The cotton planted is mainly E-Zamian 1, No.3, No.4, No.5 and No.6, accounting for more than 70% of the cotton planting area. According to the investigation and statistics of Songzi Agricultural Bureau, the planting area of E-Zamian series varieties accounts for 74.6% of the cotton planting area, of which E-Zamian No.4 accounts for 34.2%, E-Zamian No.5 accounts for 1 .5%, E-Zamian1.

Fourth, the emergence of cotton seeds is better than expected.

In view of the poor maturity of cotton seeds last year, agricultural departments at all levels have intensified the propaganda on how to complete cotton seedling cleaning, instructed cotton farmers to prepare more pots, select seeds before sowing, postpone sowing, fine management and other measures, and achieved remarkable results. According to local reports, this year's cotton planting is mainly concentrated in the first half of April, catching the cold tail and warming the head. In addition, since late March, the weather in Hubei Province has been mainly sunny, with high temperature, less rainy days and sufficient sunshine. The natural climate is very favorable for cotton sowing and emergence, and the situation of cotton emergence is better than expected. According to the investigation of 25 seedbeds by Tianmen Agriculture Bureau, the emergence rate is 57-84.2%, with an average of 68.6%. Although cotton seedlings are not strong, they are generally characterized by delicate cotyledons, few diseased spots and low seedling mortality.

Five, cotton industrialization has achieved initial results.

In recent years, the main cotton producing areas have intensified the propaganda and work to promote cotton industrialization, actively supported the growth of intermediary organizations such as cotton professional associations, and the cotton industrialization has been steadily promoted in the main producing areas. Zhongxiang City set up a cotton association to connect the vast number of cotton farmers and cotton purchasing enterprises. The cotton sold by farmers participating in the association adopts the methods of single collection, single storage, single rolling and single sale, and the after-sales net profit is divided in proportion. Through the way of secondary settlement, cotton farmers benefit and cotton purchasing enterprises profit. In 2003, cotton purchasing enterprises returned 6.5438+0.65 million yuan to farmers through the association, which helped farmers settle in 69 yuan and improved cotton planting efficiency. This year, the city has expanded the radiation area of the cotton association, and has signed cotton purchase and sale agreements with more than 20% cotton farmers in the city, eliminating the worries of farmers selling cotton.