Uzbekistan Cotton Harvest Falters

ANKARA - Jan 20-04 - SNS -- This year's cotton harvest in Uzbekistan fell short of production estimates, sinking from initial projections of a 3.6 million metric tons (MT) seed cotton harvest to just 2.85 million MT.

Based on this decrease Uzbekistan's 2003-04 lint production is forecast at 910,000 MT with exports further declining to 660,000 MT.

Commenting on the situation, the U.S. agricultural attache here notes the cotton crop size was also affected by a shortage of appropriate inputs and the lack of attractive incentives for farmers. Although, as usual, prior to harvest, the Uzbekistan government increased the average state procurement prices for seed cotton from Sums 126,000 last year to Sums 195,000 this year (exchange rate Sums 977 = USD1.00), still it is far below the world market prices.

In spite of this year's difficulties, government officials hope that the increase in world cotton prices will serve as an incentive to production. A modest increase in seeded area to almost 1.39 million hectares brings with it the potential for a 982,000 MT lint harvest.

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