Page 19 - 03 Cotton SA February 2014

Nuus – News

The average age of cotton farmers in many countries is rising. Secretariat was instructed to work with the Task Force to ensure
It was noted that young people often see greater economic effi cient collection of information about production, marketing
opportunities in urban professions and that in many countries and pricing under each program, and to determine the future
public services are better in urban than in rural areas. role of the Task Force. The full report of the Task Force is available
Furthermore, farming is often held in low esteem. Governments on the Secretariat’s web site.
discussed how career opportunities in the cotton value chain The Committee’s Private Sector Advisory Panel (PSAP) informed
could be enhanced through access to credit, mentorships,
increased education, expanded mechanisation, by encouraging governments that universal adoption of the model phytosanitary
certifi cate that has been prepared by the Food and Agriculture
the formation of cooperatives, and with policies to provide
greater security of land ownership. Organization of the United Nations (FAO), harmonization of
Electronic Bills of Lading, and implementation of a common
Specialists noted that women provide most of the labour in system of bale identifi cation would increase effi ciencies in world
smallholder cotton production, including planting, weeding, cotton trade.
spraying, and harvesting. However, women often lack access to The PSAP noted that the European Union has expressed an
inputs, credit, extension services and markets, and that work-life interest in joining the ICAC. The PSAP urged governments to take
balance issues often place greater stress on women than men in care that the multiple voices from the private sector continue to
jobs within the value chain. Governments were encouraged to be heard by members of the ICAC.
ensure that women have access to credit and inputs, are eligible
for land ownership, and are supported with gender-sensitive The PSAP reported that contract enforcement underpins
technical support. Established cultural expectations that limit profi tability and urged governments to avoid trade-distorting
the roles of women in agriculture can be changed through public measures. Disruptions to cotton marketing exacerbate problems
education campaigns. The Secretariat was requested to establish of contract defaults, create unfair competition, and have negative
a “Women in Cotton Network” to exchange information and raise long-term impacts on the cotton value chain worldwide as
awareness of gender issues. spinners respond to such disruptions by reducing cotton use in
favor of other fi bers.
ICAC members affi rmed that the issues discussed in the Doha
Round remain important and must be resolved. The Committee The Committee received a report from the Government of
continues to support the World Trade Organization (WTO) for Argentina about a program called PROCALGODON. This program
its role in promoting openness and facilitating the rule of law is an eff ort to ensure that the Argentine cotton industry is
in trade matters, for the Dispute Settlement Understanding and implementing recommendations from the ICAC and the
for its contributions to economic development, and continues Private Sector Advisory Panel. The program works to improve
to urge governments to honor their WTO commitments transparency and bale traceability, improve cotton quality and
regarding subsidies in sectors that compete with cotton. ICAC eliminate contamination, improve farmer incomes through
Members reiterated that cotton is an integral part of the Doha optimal input use, and implement standardized instrument
Development Agenda (DDA) and that there can be no successful testing of cotton.
conclusion of the DDA without an agreement on cotton. Many Member Governments expressed their appreciation to the
members supported the long outstanding request of the C4 outgoing executive director, Terry Townsend, for his work during
(West African countries) for an end to direct subsidies that distort 25 years with the Committee, including 15 as executive director.
production and trade in cotton.
They wished him well in his new endeavors beginning 1 January
The Committee received a report from its Task Force on Cotton 2014. Governments gave a warm welcome to Mr. José Sette
Identity Programs, set up to analyze and compare various cotton as the incoming executive director. Mr. Sette will be the sixth
based initiatives. The Task Force reported that production of executive director since the Secretariat was formed in 1947.
cotton under organic, Fairtrade, BCI and Cotton made in Africa
amounted to nearly 4% of world cotton production in 2011/12. The Committee has accepted an invitation from the Government
of Greece to host the 73rd Plenary Meeting in Thessaloniki, from
The Committee expressed an interest in staying informed on
developments as regards these and other identity programs. The 2 to 7 November 2014. (Extract from the fi nal Statement of the
72nd Plenary Meeting)
THE COTTON MARKS WHERE TO OBTAIN LABELS BEARING THE COTTON MARK

The following local label manufacturers are the only licensed vendors
he Cotton Mark is a registered trademark launched by authorised to manufacture labels bearing the cotton marks:
South Afri can cotton producers as a quality mark for Julius Solomon Cape Town 021 511 3135
T cotton merchan dise. Since 1985, the use of the Cotton
Mark was granted to most of the important players in the International Trimmings Cape Town, Johannesburg
cotton pipeline and the mark has become a true standard Durban 021 590 1100
against which all cotton produce is measured. PMC Sewing Systems Pinetown Johannesburg 031 700 4275

Cotton contacts • Katoenkontakte

SAKPO 012-804 1462 Corporation 086 069 3888 SACGA 012-804 1462 Cotton/Katoen SA 012-804 1462/67
NAMC 012-341 1115 Cargill Cotton 011-799 2000 SACTMA 011-615 4007 Vaalharts Pluismeule 053-474 0115
Lever Ponds Pty Ltd 011-802 5770 Kleinboer Opleiding (Katoen SA) SATIEC 021-577 4200 Noord-Kaap Pluismeule 082 948 2569
Monsanto 011-790 8200 012-804 1462 TEXFED 011-615 4007 Loskop Pluismeule 013-261 1498
Industrial Development ARC-IIC 014-536 3150 Weipe Pluismeule 015-533 3021 GWK Pluismeule 053 581 0037

Katoen SA Cotton 19 Februarie • February 2014