Bangladesh Seeks Cotton Independence to Save Billions
Bangladesh is the world’s second-largest exporter of ready-made garments. Yet, it spends over USD 3 billion each year to import cotton. About 97 percent of the cotton used by its textile industry comes from other countries. Experts recently urged Bangladesh to grow much more cotton locally. They believe this can save money and help the country adapt to climate change.
These calls came at a national meeting in Dhaka. BRAC’s Climate and Environmental Innovation Programme organized the event. It took place at the BRAC Centre on July 30, 2026. The dialogue looked at problems stopping local cotton growth. It also explored ways to increase production. This included new policies, research, and support for farmers.
Md Rezaul Amin from the Cotton Development Board spoke at the meeting. He said cotton is a very useful crop. It helps farmers earn more money. Growing cotton also aids in fighting climate change. It creates many new job opportunities. He added that the government is giving incentives to farmers. This encourages them to plant cotton.
Md Liakath Ali from BRAC highlighted cotton’s potential. He said it offers a good choice for areas affected by climate change. Expanding cotton farms needs strong teamwork. Government agencies, private companies, and development groups must work together.
M Farid Uddin, a cotton expert, gave more details. Bangladesh now grows cotton on about 45,000 hectares of land. It produces around 200,000 bales yearly. This meets only two percent of the country’s needs. He also noted that cotton is good for the environment. The government officially recognized cotton as an agricultural product one year ago.
Mitali Chakma, a cotton farmer from Rangamati, shared her story. She received seeds and training from the Cotton Development Board. She has grown cotton for three years. She said farmers are very interested in cotton. With good support, cotton farming can grow greatly in the Chattogram Hill Tracts.
Growing cotton faces some difficulties. Cotton farms compete for land with rice, tobacco, and vegetables. Harvesting cotton is mostly done by hand. Farmers also find it hard to get money, farming tools, and expert help. They struggle with storage, processing, and finding buyers for their cotton.
Experts see great potential for cotton in areas hit by climate change. These include the Barind Tract, coastal areas with salty soil, and riverine islands. Cotton can grow well in heat and dry weather. It needs less water than rice. This makes it a good crop for adapting to climate change. It can also give farmers new ways to earn money. Planting cotton could also replace tobacco farming in some areas.
