West Africa’s cotton industry is grappling with persistent productivity constraints and climate-related shocks, even as some countries report modest yield improvements, according to discussions at a regional review meeting held in Lomé this week.
The 18th annual review of the Integrated Cotton Production Program in Africa (PR-PICA) brought together around 250 stakeholders from eight countries across West and Central Africa to assess the 2025–2026 production season and identify strategies to close long-standing productivity gaps.
Organized by the National Cotton Company of Togo, NSCT, the meeting focused on strengthening research collaboration, improving farm-level practices, and enhancing farmer incomes across the region.
Sector under pressure from climate and pests
The region’s cotton sector continues to operate under difficult environmental conditions, including climate variability, soil degradation, and recurring pest infestations that significantly affect yields.
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In Togo, officials reported gradual productivity gains, with yields rising from about 800 kilograms per hectare to nearly one tonne per hectare in recent seasons. Authorities attribute the improvement to better access to agricultural inputs, improved soil mapping techniques, and more targeted cultivation practices.
However, the gains remain fragile. Policymakers continue to rely on price stabilization mechanisms for seed cotton and fertilizers to support farmers and maintain production levels.
Regional cooperation through PR-PICA
The PR-PICA platform serves as a coordination mechanism for researchers, producers, and industry stakeholders across participating countries. Its goal is to accelerate the transfer of agricultural innovation and harmonize responses to shared challenges affecting cotton production.
NSCT Director-General Martin Drevon said the annual meetings provide a critical opportunity to evaluate performance and improve efficiency across the sector.
“These annual meetings allow us to assess performance and make cotton farming easier and more efficient,” he said, adding that the broader objective is to increase yields and improve rural incomes.
Pests remain a major constraint
Despite some productivity gains, pest pressure remains one of the most severe challenges facing cotton producers across West Africa.
Since 2022, outbreaks of whiteflies and jassids have caused yield losses of up to 50 percent in several countries, undermining production gains and increasing production costs.
Stakeholders at the Lomé meeting emphasized the need for improved pest management strategies, including the introduction of more effective chemical molecules and updated crop protection protocols.
According to Koussouwè Kouroufei, head of the National Federation of Cotton Producers’ Groups (FNGPC), farmers are looking for more effective solutions to stabilize production.
“We expect effective molecules to better control pests,” he said.
Research and innovation push
Researchers at the meeting also focused on long-term solutions, including the development of pest-resistant and drought-tolerant cotton varieties, improved soil fertility management, and adaptation to climate change.
The emphasis on innovation reflects growing concern that traditional farming practices are increasingly insufficient in the face of shifting environmental conditions and rising pest resistance.
Participants noted that sustained investment in agricultural research will be essential to improving competitiveness and ensuring the long-term viability of the sector.
Toward higher-value production
Beyond productivity challenges, stakeholders also discussed the need to strengthen the competitiveness of African cotton in global markets, where prices remain volatile and competition is intensifying.
Efforts are increasingly focused not only on increasing yields but also on improving value retention within producing countries through better processing, quality control, and supply chain integration.
At the conclusion of the Lomé meeting, participants are expected to issue recommendations for the upcoming agricultural season, which national governments will incorporate into their agricultural policy frameworks.
While recent gains offer cautious optimism, experts warn that without sustained improvements in pest control, research investment, and climate resilience, productivity gaps are likely to persist across the region’s cotton-producing economies.
