NDRC says cotton area will increase in 2007

　　According to the Planting Intentions Survey conducted by the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) of 16,870 rural families in 881 counties in 30 provinces, China’s cotton area will increase slightly in 2007.
　　The survey reveals the family planting area on average is 0.87 mu, up by 1.5% compared with last year. The reasons of expanded cotton sowings　are follows: 1.The wider use of Bt cotton decrease the labor demand; 2.The income from cotton is around 800 yuan per mu which has exceeded that from wheat and corn (590 yuan/mu);3.The soils in some areas are more suitability for planting cotton rather than competing crops.