NACOTAN calls for establishment of the National Cotton, Textile, Garment Council
The National Cotton Association of Nigeria (NACOTAN) has called on the Federal Government to establish a National Cotton, Textile and Garment Development Council.
The National Secretary of the association, Alhaji Hassan Buhari, made the call while presenting a paper titled: “Cotton production: marketing, challenges, and pathways to recovery’’ at the Cotton Master Sampling and Production meeting in Zaria.
According to him, the Council would strengthen coordination, boost production and the marketing of cotton as well as enhance the development of the sector generally.
In his words, “The Council when established shall provide the necessary support to cotton industry development through appropriate services in production, research, extension and training, financial assistance and other support services.
“It shall also prescribe and strictly enforce regulations and quality control needed to safeguard cotton growers.’’
Buhari said the Council would also serve as the country’s cotton development authority and would be committed to innovating and making cotton production competitive to increase farmers’ income and generate foreign exchange revenue.
The national secretary expressed the association’s appreciation to President Muhammad Buhari for including cotton in the government’s Anchor Borrowers Programme.
He said the Anchor Borrowers Scheme had provided completed linkages between farmers and ginneries and between ginneries and the textile factories.
He said the association further appeals to the Federal Government to sustain the scheme to boost production.
