Newsletter LeFaso.net Cotton sector: Three days of reflection to revive the sector

The first cotton-producing country in Africa, a few years ago, Burkina Faso now sees its place occupied by Mali. A poor performance recorded over the last two campaigns and which results from the difficulties encountered by the cotton sector, in particular the drop in yield which is explained, according to the Minister of Trade, Industry and Crafts, by the boycott of production in some areas, severe parasitic infestation, capricious rainfall, etc.

And this is not without effects both for the producers and for the country. Producers thus find themselves faced with over-indebtedness due to internal and external unpaid bills. We also note the disaffection of more and more producers who, discouraged, abandon cotton cultivation in favor of other speculations, which leads to a drop in export earnings for the country.

Despite these difficulties, cotton remains the first cash crop in Burkina Faso with a contribution of more than 4% to the national GDP and more than 28% to the agricultural GDP. And there are about four million people who derive their income from the entire cotton chain.

In view of the importance of the sector in the country's economy and in order to find solutions to the problems facing the sector, a high-level committee has been set up chaired by the Minister of Commerce, Industry and Handicrafts, Harouna Kaboré. This committee, made up of representatives of the administration and players in the cotton sector, is responsible for monitoring the sustainable recovery of the cotton sector.

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— Eve Wed Jul 28 13:26:45 +0000 2021

This national workshop on the sustainable recovery of cotton production is part of the actions undertaken by the committee. During three days, the participants will make an uncompromising analysis of the difficulties encountered by the cotton sector and will propose actions and measures to be implemented for the sustainable revival of cotton production in Burkina Faso.

Indeed, as Minister Harouna Kaboré explains, "this rather gloomy situation requires first of all to question the real constraints that affect the productivity of cotton farms and production, in order to find adequate responses in the short term, and secondly, to define relevant strategies in the medium and long term to sustainably improve the agronomic and socio-economic performance of the cotton sector. »

At the end of the workshop, the conclusions and recommendations will be carried by the High Level Committee "so that a diligent follow-up is given for their implementation", assured Minister Kaboré.

Justine BonkoungouLefaso.net