Cotton Growing: Know the advantages
A low-cost and widely applied activity, cotton cultivation is capable of producing for the most varied markets, always as an essential element in the resulting items. For the producers, the business is profitable and not so complex in administration. There are many advantages that can be taken advantage of when this activity is conducted in the right way.
Like any other agribusiness market, the activity with cotton has its own specific care and harvest cycle. Besides the need of having technical knowledge with the planting process, it is also fundamental to know how to manage stages of the work, such as soil management, storage and distribution.
With the correct planning and execution, it is possible to take advantage of all the advantages of this market and invoice as much as possible. In this post we will talk a little more about the subject.
The cotton market and its characteristics
The fifth largest cotton producer in the world, Brazil is a country where climatic conditions greatly favor the development of the plant. In itself, this is a natural incentive that many producers take advantage of, but it must be accompanied by investments, even if not so large, and technical knowledge.
A good planning and a correct execution guarantee that the producer can have great results in the harvest, as long as he also knows how to respect the cultivation cycle. On average, it can last from 130 to 220 days, demanding great care with the quality of the cotton fiber development. The better it is, the more the crop is valued and the higher its price in the market.
The advantages of cotton cultivation
Cotton cultivation is an activity that presents some advantages to its producers, whether these highlights in relation to its costs or the management and management of the activity. Some of these characteristics show good reasons for cotton to be the focus of new producers or even those who are already in agribusiness and wish to expand their activities.
Below, check some of the main advantages that can be observed in cotton cultivation and how they favor those who adhere to this activity.
High demand and low investment
The cotton production can be used in two parts: seed and fiber. This in itself constitutes an advantage, but the relationship is even more attractive when one looks at the markets generated. Demand is really high and cotton cultivation can be applied in:
- textile production;
- animal feed (oil extracted from the seed);
- coffee filters;
- fishing nets;
- manufacture of explosives;
- raw material for binding.
Although it is possible to produce so much with cotton, the cost of the activity is not so high. Thus, the relationship between production and profit becomes more advantageous to the producer, with a very high return margin.
Direction to several markets
This list of uses of cotton also shows how wide the reach of the product is as raw material. In practice, this means that there are many markets interested in the product, which represents diverse possibilities for the producer. He will always have search for his crop, being able to work with exclusive partners, with regular invoicing.
Intermediate cycle time
Cotton cycle time is also a very attractive factor. The 4 to 7 months, on average, that a cycle takes to reach the harvest are considered an intermediate time, mainly if compared to other national agribusiness products. This means that the return on investment time is good.
The best tips for cotton cultivation
Who wants to enter this production market must be prepared for the best practices and the correct planning. This is the only way to make the most of the harvest and ensure that the development of the crop moves towards the appreciation of its market value. Below, check some essential tips for cotton cultivation.
Plan the cultivation
Every activity start must go through a rigorous planning, since this guarantees the best results. Therefore, the producer must organize the work considering the preparation of the soil, the management during the cycle and the harvest. Factors such as weather conditions throughout the period, use of inputs in the activity, storage, distribution should be considered.
Consider the planting season
The choice of time is also essential, preventing the cycle from developing in periods of heavy rainfall, for example, which could cause damage. The two most suitable periods for cotton are the normal season and the so-called “safrinha”. The normal allows harvesting only once a year, but at maximum volume, while the harvest may vary more.