Knowing All about Hunan

Will boycotting Xinjiang cotton influence production? Nonsense

Editor:阮梓峰
Source:english.rednet.cn
Updated:2021-03-26 02:38:15

In the cotton field, a cotton picker harvest cottons.

Photo by Cai Zengle, Xinhua

Guo Weican reported from Turpan

In the past two days, News about Xinjiang cotton was on the front page.

It originates from H&M group and other organization intending to discredit China. They make an announcement regarding to no longer purchasing cottons from Xinjiang.

This claim have drawn Chinese consumers criticisms—While companies boycott Xinjiang products, they want to make profits in Chinese market. It is not tolerable. In March 24th, Taobao, JD.com, Pinduoduo and many e-commerce platforms have putted off related products. There is no search result related with “H&M” and “HM”. Also, celebrities who worked with H&M, such as Huang Xuan, Song Xi and so on, have claimed to cancel the collaboration.

“This is nonsense”, Liu Yutong, the party secretary of Turpan Bureau of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, were asked by the reporter regarding to this event. In the past two days, he was closely watching how this event develops. He thinks that cotton production system in our country is the most complete one. “Xinjiang cotton takes up 70% of national cotton production, but our cotton production is not large enough to meet the domestic demand.”

His words is well proved by statistics. According to reports from Xinhua News Agency, as the country with the largest cotton consumption and the second largest cotton production, in the year between 2020 and 2021, China has produced estimated 595 million tons of cotton. Its domestic demand is estimated to be 780 million tons, and annual shortage is around 185 million tons. There were 520 million tons of cotton produced in Xinjiang. It took up 87% of the annual national production and 67% of annual domestic consumption.

Liu Yutong said that just regarding to Turpans local production, there are estimated 80000 mus (5333 hectares)of cotton fields, but there are 11 cotton manufactures, 4 major textiles companies and some other clothing companies in needs. In fact, 4 companies are already enough. It means that we do have a large demand for cotton in ourselves. As these companies occupy a large portion of cotton production, other 70% cotton in needs are collected from other parts of Xinjiang. From a national standpoint, there are more textiles companies.

Liu Yutong considers that if foreign companies boycott Xinjiang cotton, they will loss the most. Because the unique terrain and weather of Xinjiang provide a natural condition for planting qualified cotton, demands are always higher than supply. In order to meet the domestic demand, China imports estimated 200 million tons of cotton annually. Recently through expanding ways of importing, China had strengthened the collaboration with Brazil, India and many countries producing cotton and thus secured a stable domestic cotton supply chain. China also completed a system of cotton storage and subsidizes cotton agriculture. Thus, welfare of cotton farmers will be guaranteed.

“If foreign companies such H&M boycott Xinjiang cotton, their market, raw materials and brand identities are therefore all under an impact. But since China is the second largest cotton production country, ten companies like them are still impossible to influence Chinese cotton production.” Liu Yutong said that Xinjiang cotton are planted in April, and are picked around September. Mechanized picking is utilized in 80% of production, so forced labor claimed by overseas anti-China political group are nonsense.

Adili·Aihemaiti, a cotton farmer from Turpan city, is in charge of 20 mus (1.3 hectares) of cotton land. When he was asked by the reporter about his cotton, he said proudly, “Xinjiang cotton is soft and good. Especially the long-staple cotton is a world-class one.” Regarding to the announcement of H&M group—using forced labor as the reason, boycotting Xinjiang cotton, he thinks it is very absurd and make him angry. “While companies boycott Xinjiang products, they want to earn profit in China. This kinds of behavior is like one destroys ones cooking pot when one still need to eat. We strongly object. No one can play such kind of trick on our Xinjiang cotton.”