Uzbekistan offers land, seeks Bangladesh’s investment

[UKBengali]

Yes, cotton production is largely inefficient compared to other crops since it requires a large area for significant yield.

However, according to the article I posted, it states that the GoB is looking to implement cotton farming in hilly areas (where no current farming is taking place, and the region is not utlised), as well as coastal areas (where saline water prevents any other crop from growing). It also states that the government discourages cotton farming in areas where other crops are produced.

No harm in utilising any spare suitable areas to grow crops but BD will always be dependent on imports for the majority of it's cotton needs.

 

[Shorisrip]

No harm in utilising any spare suitable areas to grow crops but BD will always be dependent on imports for the majority of it's cotton needs.

Yes, this is true for the time being unfortunately.

But, as for the future as our energy infrastructure continues to grow, we could implement advanced agricultural techniques such as vertical farming since it is very efficient, but requires a lot of energy use (which we cannot implement currently). But, since we're an agricultural nation, improvement in agri technologies is the best path for us to go.

 

[Homo Sapiens]

We are looking at 2000 square km of land to save 10-15% of import costs. This is more than 1% of total BD
land area. So to grow all the current cotton that BD garment industry requires would take around 15% of total BD land area. BD does not have this amount of land lying idle that is suitable for cotton cultivation.
Hence why I say that BD does not have the land to grow it's own cotton.

Greater Rajshahi areas are suitable for cotton cultivation.But we have other more priority crops to cultivate there.Like Rice and wheat.So no land available.Although, one thing can be done,we can lower the jute cultivation elsewhere in the country and use those land to grow Rice and free up land in Rajshahi region to cultivate cotton.As a garments exporting country, I do believe that we need to grow at least a portion of our cotton need from domestic sources.Depending 100 percent for this vital raw material to Indian source or others is risky.So BD should seriously consider replacing some jute with cotton.

 

[bluesky]

instead of importing why don't we start producing cotton

Why to buy cows when milk is cheap in the market?

 

[Bilal9]

Greater Rajshahi areas are suitable for cotton cultivation.But we have other more priority crops to cultivate there.Like Rice and wheat.So no land available.Although, one thing can be done,we can lower the jute cultivation elsewhere in the country and use those land to grow Rice and free up land in Rajshahi region to cultivate cotton.As a garments exporting country, I do believe that we need to grow at least a portion our cotton need from domestic sources.Depending 100 percent for this vital raw material to Indian source or others is risky.So BD should seriously consider replacing some jute with cotton.

Several things that come to mind.

1. Will we always be a garments producing nation (cotton input) which is the lowest form of industrial value addition? Is it more efficient to grow cotton locally?
2. Average agricultural yield (average gain profit-wise) of particular crops over the long-term dictates that cultivating wheat and sugarcane in Barind soil areas (Greater Rajshahi) is better than cultivating cotton. In fact soil of Bangladesh is more apropos to grow wheat and sugarcane than Pakistan, yield is higher. Problem is, we don't eat as much of it....compared to rice. But that will change with increasing income and food habits. Both these crops will be a boon to baked goods industry (Italy, Spain and Holland have huge export-base on baked goods). And yes, you guessed it -we kicked @$$ on rice and soybean production yields compared to our neighbors as well.

3. Growing food maybe better insurance against global food supply shocks which are increasingly becoming more common.

 

[chatterjee]

Why to buy cows when milk is cheap in the market?

why not if milk is your daily necessity. after buying cows you are gonna get milk more cheaper and many people can get a source of earning. Lastly you can export which is left after your use.

 

[bête noire]

why not if milk is your daily necessity. after buying cows you are gonna get milk more cheaper and many people can get a source of earning. Lastly you can export which is left after your use.

NOPE. Somethings have more value than other. Somethings require more input and land than others. We have small land. We can either make industries that requires less space and produces more value or we can make product that requires more land and produces less value. Both might require the same input and work hours but both can't output the same value when space is limited.

Instead of wasting space on cows or cottons, we can farm something else and produce more value with less land and then buy cotton and milk from other countries with less value than what our land produced from other farming which saves more money in the end.

 

[RoadRunner401]

Uzbekistan is a leading industrial country in Central Asia. The distinctive features of the country are highly developed automobile, airplane and machine building, metallurgy, natural gas and oil processing, chemical, textiles, food processing and other industries.


Mining and minerals is a significant part of the national economy. Uzbekistan is a major producer of gold with the largest open-pit gold mine in the world and has substantial deposits of such strategic minerals as copper, tungsten, lead, zinc, and uranium, as well as natural gas and oil.

Uzbekistan is a largest agricultural producer of the region. It is a recognized leading producer and exporter of raw cotton, cotton yarn and textiles. The country also produces and exports significant quantities of silk, fruits and vegetables.

Can anybody answer my question please, why would Uzbek's come to Bangladesh for setting up garment factories in Uzbekistan when they themselves produces machinery plus cotton required to put up an Textile MFG plant not to mention their GDP per capita is almost 1000 dollar more, then Bangladesh.

 

[bluesky]

NOPE. Somethings have more value than other. Somethings require more input and land than others. We have small land. We can either make industries that requires less space and produces more value or we can make product that requires more land and produces less value. Both might require the same input and work hours but both can't output the same value when space is limited.

Instead of wasting space on cows or cottons, we can farm something else and produce more value with less land and then buy cotton and milk from other countries with less value than what our land produced from other farming which saves more money in the end.

It is a very pragmatic way of thinking what you expressed in your sensible post.

 

[Bilal9]

Uzbekistan is a leading industrial country in Central Asia. The distinctive features of the country are highly developed automobile, airplane and machine building, metallurgy, natural gas and oil processing, chemical, textiles, food processing and other industries.


Mining and minerals is a significant part of the national economy. Uzbekistan is a major producer of gold with the largest open-pit gold mine in the world and has substantial deposits of such strategic minerals as copper, tungsten, lead, zinc, and uranium, as well as natural gas and oil.

Uzbekistan is a largest agricultural producer of the region. It is a recognized leading producer and exporter of raw cotton, cotton yarn and textiles. The country also produces and exports significant quantities of silk, fruits and vegetables.

Can anybody answer my question please, why would Uzbek's come to Bangladesh for setting up garment factories in Uzbekistan when they themselves produces machinery plus cotton required to put up an Textile MFG plant not to mention their GDP per capita is almost 1000 dollar more, then Bangladesh.

I think you should pose that question to the Uzbeks.

They came to Bangladesh with their proposal and not vice versa. Could be something to do with GSP quotas, entry to European markets maybe.

I will get you some possible answers but not right now.

NOPE. Somethings have more value than other. Somethings require more input and land than others. We have small land. We can either make industries that requires less space and produces more value or we can make product that requires more land and produces less value. Both might require the same input and work hours but both can't output the same value when space is limited.

Instead of wasting space on cows or cottons, we can farm something else and produce more value with less land and then buy cotton and milk from other countries with less value than what our land produced from other farming which saves more money in the end.

My thoughts exactly.

 

[mb444]

Well, during the Mughal era, Bengal Subah was responsible for much of its cotton production since the majority of the textile industry was based here, especially in and around Dhaka.

So, I'm pretty sure its still possible now.

This news article is from 2016

https://bdnews24.com/business/2016/04/27/bangladesh-eyes-increasing-local-cotton-production

It is absolutely possible to produce cotton in BD. I suppose the problem is land.

Like other posters I would like BD to invest in cotton production in Uzbekistan in addition to setting up textile factories.

Uzbekistan being landlocked I don’t think is a problem.... make it first overseas BD agri-business and manufacturing base and export to all the central Asian nations.

BD has also explored possibilities of leasing land in Africa and monkey land for rice cultivation. We should explore such possibilities in friendly Muslim country.

Uzbekistan is a leading industrial country in Central Asia. The distinctive features of the country are highly developed automobile, airplane and machine building, metallurgy, natural gas and oil processing, chemical, textiles, food processing and other industries.


Mining and minerals is a significant part of the national economy. Uzbekistan is a major producer of gold with the largest open-pit gold mine in the world and has substantial deposits of such strategic minerals as copper, tungsten, lead, zinc, and uranium, as well as natural gas and oil.

Uzbekistan is a largest agricultural producer of the region. It is a recognized leading producer and exporter of raw cotton, cotton yarn and textiles. The country also produces and exports significant quantities of silk, fruits and vegetables.

Can anybody answer my question please, why would Uzbek's come to Bangladesh for setting up garment factories in Uzbekistan when they themselves produces machinery plus cotton required to put up an Textile MFG plant not to mention their GDP per capita is almost 1000 dollar more, then Bangladesh.

I would suspect they want to increase this sector. They have lot of land and small population.

They may have higher GDP but BD has need, money and technical knowhow. It’s a win win for both nation.