Local harvests give China record cotton reserves

China, the world's biggest cotton grower and consumer, has amassed record reserves by buying local harvests over the past two years to protect farmers and not to control global markets, a State-run trade group said.

The stockpiling was originally drafted as a temporary backup plan when supply exceeds demand, the China Cotton Association said. The country has bought local cotton since 2011 to ease a plunge in prices and boost farmers' profits.