Page 3 - 03 Cotton SA February 2014

Inhoudsopgawe • Contents

Voorwoord/Preface 3 A very critical time in crop management 9
In Memorium: Martie Botha 4 Katoen-subsidies 10
Vir die eerste keer in die geskiedenis van Agri SA is ’n Biotechnology in Cotton 12
swart boer tot Ondervoorsitter verkies 4 Tegnologiefooie vir tweede agtereenvolgende
Minimum wage for Farm Worker Sector with eff ect from jaar verlaag! 14
1 March 2014 4 Cotton SA’s quality control division receives
Government approves the Southern African Sustainable fi rst ‘Stamp of Approval’ 14
Cotton Textile and Apparel Cluster 5 Correct fertilization helps prevent fruit shedding 15
Katoen Markverslag soos op 3 Februarie 2014 6 Assumption is the Mother of Disaster 15
A New era starts in textile technology 7 Cotton Skills Training in Limpopo 16
International Cotton Advisory Committee: Plenary Meeting USA-SA Cotton Connection 17
report of the Committee on Cotton Production Research 8 Attendance of 72nd Plenary meeting 18
Voorwoord deur: Hennie Bruwer, HUB Katoen SA

p internasionale vlak het die jaar afgeskop met pryse wat steeds hoër neig ongeag die
rekord katoenvoorrade wat op hande is. Die gemiddelde Cotlook A-Indeks vir Januarie Cotton SA Katoen
2014 het $US 91 sent per pond beloop teenoor 85 sent per pond wat in November/
O Desember 2013 aangeteken is. Die hoër pryse kan toegeskryf word aan die vraag CEO: Hennie Bruwer
na katoenkwaliteite wat ontbreek en is ontleders van mening dat pryse in die komende weke/ Tel: 012 – 804 1462
maande steeds stewig sal vertoon. Hennie Bruwer Fax: 012 – 804 8616
Op die plaaslike front is daar kennis geneem van die eerste amptelike oesskatting vir die Website:
2013/14-seisoen wat dui op ‘n 65% toename teenoor die vorige seisoen. Ofskoon die jongste oesskatting nog http://www.cottonsa.org.za
beduidend laer is as vorige rekordoeste, is die oplewing positief en is die verwagting dat aanplantings in komende Katoen SA
seisoene sterker opwaarts sal neig. Cotton SA
Gelyklopend met pogings om katoen as ‘n mededingende somergewas te hervestig, word daar hard gewerk om Posbus PO Box 912232
Silverton
droëlandproduksie weer op dreef te kry. Ter ondersteuning van verskeie aktiwiteite in die verband is daar onder 0127
andere reeds ver gevorder om ‘n “stripper” (katoenplukker) vir die huidige plukseisoen in te voer en onder plaaslike
Technical Advisor:
toestande te demonstreer in die soeke na meer koste-eff ektiewe meganiese oesmetodes om droëlandverbouing te Hein Schröder 012-804 1462
bevorder. Voorts word daar ook gepoog om fi nansiering in werking te stel ten einde boere behulpsaam te wees met
die tydige verkryging van produksie-insette asook onmiddellike betaling met die lewering van hul oeste. Training & Development:
Benewens bostaande verwikkelinge, is daar met groot dankbaarheid kennis geneem van die regering se amptelike David Mtsweni 012-804 1462
goedkeuring van ‘n Nasionale Cluster vir die Katoen-, Tekstiel- en Kleresektore. Dit behels ‘n 5-jaar ondersteunde Mentorship Programme:
program om bestaande en nuwe kapasiteit in die onderskeie sektore uit te bou ten einde die regering asook Percy Macaskill 082 492 1493
plaaslike- en internasionale verbruikers met volkome naspeurbare en volhoubare katoenprodukte te voorsien.
Hierdie inisiatief het ten doel om die katoenwaardeketting meer mededingend te maak asook om groter plaaslike Small Scale Cotton Farmers’ Forum:
katoeninhoud in lokale vervaardigde tekstiel- en klereprodukte te verseker. Hierbenewens sal die program ook baie Phenias Gumede 082 945 5476
sterk op die skepping van nuwe werksgeleenthede fokus. Editorial Committee:
Sektor-rolspelers sien uit na ‘n konstruktiewe vennootskap met die regering om die katoen tekstiel- en Hennie Bruwer
Koot Louw
klerewaardekettings weer te laat herleef ten einde ’n ekonomiese strategie te ondersteun wat tot groter groei en Hein Schröder
werkskepping sal lei om sodoende ’n beter lewe vir alle landsburgers te verseker. Robbie Kemp
EDITOR
Preface by: Hennie Bruwer, CEO Cotton SA
Johan Swiegers
D E–mail: editor@pop.co.za
Tel: 012 – 804 5854
espite the excess of cotton stocks in the world, the year kicked off with higher cotton prices and the Cotlook
Cell: 082 882 7023
A-Index for January 2014 has averaged $US 91cents/lb, up from 85 cents/lb seen in November/December
2013. The higher prices can be ascribed to the demand for quality cottons which are not readily available
ADVERTISING
and analysts are of opinion that prices will remain high in the ensuing weeks/months.
On the local front the fi rst offi cial harvest estimate for the 2013/14 season points to a 65% increase over the previous Suzanne Oosthuizen
Tel: 012 – 804 5854
season. Although the latest estimate is considerably lower than previous record crops, the revival is positive and it is Cell: 082 832 1604
expected that plantings in ensuing seasons will show a stronger increase. E–mail: suzanne@pop.co.za
Simultaneously with attempts to re-establish cotton as a summer crop, hard work is being done to revive dryland ADMINISTRATION &
production and get it going. In support of diff erent activities in this context there are, amongst others, good progress SUBSCRIPTIONS
being made with the importation of a ‘stripper’ (cotton picker) for the current harvesting season to be demonstrated Susan Pieterse
under local conditions, in seeking more cost-eff ective mechanical picking methods which can contribute to higher Tel: 012 – 804 5854
dryland production. Furthermore, attempts are made to obtain fi nancing to support farmers to timely secure
production inputs as well as immediate payment with the delivery of their crops. Editorial content in CottonSAKatoen
Over and above the abovementioned developments, there is great appreciation for government’s offi cial approval is published under the auspices
of the CEO of Cotton SA and
of a National Cluster for the Cotton, Textile and Clothing Sectors. It encompasses a 5 year support programme to management.
improve existing and build new capacity in order to supply totally traceable and sustainable cotton products to We reserve copyright for all content
government as well as local and international consumers. This initiative’s goal is to make the cotton value chain in this publication and advise
more competitive while ensuring a higher local cotton content in locally manufactured textile and clothing products. readers that opinions formed in the
Moreover, the programme will also focus on the creation of new employment opportunities. editorials of Cotton SA Katoen are
purely that of the authors.
Sector role players are looking forward to a constructive partnership with government to restore the cotton textile
and clothing value chain in order to support an economic strategy that will lead to growth and job creation with a Besoek ons webwerf /
view to securing a better life for all citizens. Visit our website
cottonsa.org.za
AMEN: Ps 91:4: “Hy beskut jou onder Sy vleuels en is vir jou ‘n veilige skuilplek. Sy trou bekerm jou van alle kante.”
“He will shield you with His wings! They will shelter you. His faithful promises are your armour.”

Katoen SA Cotton 3 Februarie • February 2014