Cotton is a new strategic crop: why Ukraine wants to grow it again
24 June 15:27
While the world associates cotton with textiles, in Ukraine it is seen as a raw material for gunpowder. Against the backdrop of a full-scale war and import dependence, the state became interested in growing this crop in the south of the country. This is not only about the economy, but also about national security. Hanna Kashyrina, coordinator of UCAB’s Plant and Seed Protection Committee, spoke about the challenges, prospects and plans to restore cotton production in a commentary to [comersant ].
According to her, the main goal of the cotton revival is to provide raw materials for the domestic military-industrial complex.
“We are talking, in particular, about the production of gunpowder and uniforms. At the same time, cotton can become a new crop in the crop rotation, create additional jobs and economic incentives for farmers,” she clarifies.
Where in Ukraine is it feasible to grow cotton?
Cotton needs warmth and sufficient moisture, so the most favorable conditions for growing it are in the southern regions, Kashyrina continued.
“These are Odesa, Mykolaiv and Kherson regions. The climatic conditions there are the best for cotton adaptation,” the expert said.
How promising is this plant?
Cotton can be promising with government support.
“The cost of growing it is about 30 thousand hryvnias per hectare, but the state support provided in the amount of 10 thousand hryvnias per hectare significantly increases the attractiveness of this crop,” explains Kashyrina.
“Do we have everything we need – technology, seeds, specialists?
This is currently the biggest challenge. According to the expert, cotton development faces a number of serious obstacles:
- unpredictable weather conditions, including heat and lack of precipitation;
- the need for sufficient moisture at the stages of flowering and boll formation;
- high requirements for soil fertility and balanced nutrition;
- risks of pests and diseases;
- lack of specialized harvesting equipment;
- and, most importantly, the security situation in the south, where military operations are ongoing and there are mined areas.
A strategic defense resource
Cotton is of particular importance for wartime production.
“The government of Ukraine encourages the cultivation of cotton for defense and strategic reasons. Cotton pulp is the basis for nitrocellulose, which is used to make gunpowder and ammunition. Ensuring domestic production of this critical raw material is a matter of national security,” Kashyrina emphasizes.
The idea of growing cotton in Ukraine is not new. In Soviet times, it was sown in the southern regions, primarily for the needs of the army and defense industry. Part of the crop was processed into raw materials for gunpowder and technical textiles.
Although the projects were isolated, the developed agricultural technologies remained. Today, these developments are gaining a new strategic meaning in the context of modern warfare.
