Campaigners urge US and Europe to cut cotton subsidies

[dipsydoodle]

Source: BBC News

Campaigners working with West African farmers are calling on Europe and the United States to cut the subsidies they pay to their cotton farmers.

They say the money that rich countries use to back their farmers - more than $1bn a year - is artificially boosting world supply, and reducing the prices that poorer West African producers can earn.

Trade negotiators for the so-called "Cotton 4" West African states - Chad, Mali, Benin and Burkina Faso - believe that removing US cotton subsidies alone could boost West African cotton farmers' income by up to 10%.

A report published today by the Fairtrade group - which pays premium prices for organically-produced agricultural goods to stabilise incomes in poor countries - says an increase of this magnitude can make a huge difference.

Read more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-11753215

[trud]

1. prices up?

I read a NYTimes article recently that said cotton prices were forecast to go through the ceiling, although I forget why.

I am tired of US workers getting the shaft to support other countries.

[Demit]

2. Supply & demand.

Bad weather affected crops so inventory is down, while demand in China is rising. Seems to me this will be a good thing for cotton farmers everywhere.

[nalnn]

3. Commodity pricing

Hmm. Cotton is no longer king here in MS, but still certainly a cash crop. I'm not 100% sure, but this year may be one of the first where King Cotton has been surpassed by "Saviour" Corn and an old standby, soybeans as the largest output in dollar amounts.

[timo]

4. true

cotton prices are way up, unfortunately, so is, fuel,fertilizer, insecticide, and herbicide, so it all sorta averages out for the grower!!