Need better landYemen’s cotton farms: Help wanted, please [Archives:2003/624/Business & Economy]

YEMEN TIMES STAFF
Cotton growers in Yemen need more support and funding to increase production and exports, especially due to the deterioration of arable lands.
Agriculture sources say lands for cotton plantation in Tabn delta, in Abyan in particular, are in need of irrigation.
This shortage in water deprives soil of nutritious such as calcium potassium and phosphorus.
There are opportunities for investments on water dams to help plant new land with cotton.
Experts are also of the opinion that cotton cultivation is deteriorating because of a shortage in fertilizers needed for production.
Cotton plantation owners believe a lack of good centers for exports have also led to drop of its revenues, which affects their ability to buy fertilizers.
Farmers are asking for investor and government assistance to counter the pending threat to this important crop.
Researchers confirm that cotton grown in land areas specified for experimental
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