Mandalay Agriculture Dept to cover 150,000 acres of cotton regionwide

Mandalay Agriculture Department projected to plant over 150,000 acres of extra-long-staple cotton in the region to boost production of quality cotton seeds for the local growers.
This project is aimed to distribute the pedigree seeds to the growers, enhance cotton quality, reduce the production input cost and bolster the production rate. More than 20,000 acres of cotton have been planted, for now, constituting 13.66 per cent of projected acres, said Daw Aye Aye Mon, head of Mandalay Region Agriculture Department.
“The department is making efforts to increase the income of the local growers and produce the quality crop. The extra-long staple cotton farming is mostly seen in Mandalay Region. The farming commenced in July-August. This variety is marketable with high potentials. The growers can also receive the seed of pedigree quality. The irrigation system can also supply adequate water to the farms. The department will disseminate technology to improve the yield,” she stated.
The projected acres include 328 in Mandalay District, 1,734 in PyinOoLwin District, 33,138 in Kyaukse District, 365,652 in Meiktila District, 20,388 in Myingyan District, 877 in NyaungU District and 58,900 in Yamethin District.
Among them, over 20,000 acres of cotton sowing have been completed. — Min Htet Aung (Mandalay Sub-Printing House)/GNLM