The Research Associate Program of the International Cotton Advisory Committee (ICAC) provides an opportunity for persons in member countries to receive additional training in cotton research, marketing, statistics and economics. Memorandums Numbers 793 and 795 were sent on October 11 and November 23, 2005 to alert member governments about the availability of this training program and to solicit nominations. Participation in the program is open to persons from ICAC member countries, including persons from government agencies, universities and the private sector nominated by the ICAC coordinating agencies in member countries. The Secretariat budget is sufficient to cover the costs of 12 researchers from member countries.

Candidates from non-member countries and from member countries who were not nominated by the coordinating agencies are invited to participate on a tuition basis. The tuition for the program is US$3,000 per participant. All candidates will be responsible for the cost of their international travel to and from Washington, DC. The ICAC will bear the cost of travel in the USA, including lodging. Participants will be provided with a per diem amount of US$50/day for food and miscellaneous expenses.

The 2005/06 Research Associate Program will be conducted for ten days starting on April 3 and ending on April 13, 2006.

The program will be conducted on the topic of: The Economics of Sustainable Cotton Production. Presentations will be made on topics related to the costs of production and the use of Best Management Practices in cotton production. Participants will be briefed by members of the Secretariat and by experts from the US Department of Agriculture and the US cotton industry. Participants will learn about recent developments in the US cotton industry.
The program also includes a visit to a cotton area in North and south Carolinas for four days.

Tuition based candidates must apply directly to the ICAC secretariat by January 10, 2006. Research Associates will be selected by the Standing Committee in January 2006 to allow at least three months to apply for visas and make travel arrangements. More details on the program will be provided to selected candidates. Research associates are expected to make a presentation on recent developments in their countries related to cotton or textile industries.

 

The International Cotton Advisory Committee is an association of 40 governments of countries with an interest in cotton. The Secretariat of the Committee publishes information related to world cotton production, supply, demand and prices, and provides technical information on cotton production technology. Detailed statistics are found bimonthly in COTTON: Review of the World Situation, $160 per year via email, $190 per year in hard copy. A monthly outlook is available by email for $250 per year and by fax for $350.
Access to the latest weekly estimates of world cotton supply and use by the Secretariat is available on the Internet for $400 per year. Access Secretariat reports at www.icac.org