The latest report on cost of cotton production of the International Cotton Advisory Committee (ICAC) reveals that insect control costs are continuing to drop. Cotton farmers spent an average of only 12 US cents per kilogram of lint produced in 2015/16, which is 10 per cent of the net cost of lint production as against 16 US cents in the 2012/13 season.

According to ICAC, the 25 per cent decline in insecticide costs per unit of lint is primarily due to more cautious use of insecticides by farmers.

“Lower spending on insecticides is one of the main factors responsible for lowering the net cost of production to $1.16 per kg in 2015/16,” the cotton agency observed.

The ICAC survey on the cost of production of raw cotton is drawn from data from 31 countries for 2015/16 and will be released during the 75th Plenary Meeting of the ICAC, which will be held in Pakistan from October 30 to November 4.