Cotton producers from across West and Central Africa will gather in Lomé next month to assess sector performance and explore ways to boost productivity, as the industry faces mounting structural and climate-related challenges.
The meeting, scheduled for April 14 to 17, forms part of the 18th session of the Regional Program for Integrated Cotton Production in Africa, a regional platform that brings together key stakeholders in the cotton value chain.
Participants will include representatives from cotton companies, research institutions, producer organisations and agrochemical firms, reflecting the sector’s broad ecosystem and the need for coordinated solutions to persistent bottlenecks.
The session will review the results of the 2025–2026 cotton campaign across eight countries: Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Mali, Senegal, Chad and Togo.
Cotton remains one of the most important cash crops in these countries, underpinning rural incomes and contributing significantly to export earnings. Millions of smallholder farmers depend on the sector for their livelihoods, making its performance a key economic and social concern.
However, productivity across the region has remained relatively low compared to global standards, with yields constrained by a range of factors including soil degradation, limited access to quality inputs, pest infestations and the growing impact of climate variability.
Participants in Lomé are expected to examine these challenges in detail, focusing on practical solutions to improve output and strengthen competitiveness.
Among the key areas of discussion will be pest control strategies, as infestations continue to affect yields in several producing countries. Experts will also assess approaches to soil fertility management, including the use of fertilisers and sustainable farming techniques aimed at restoring productivity on degraded land.
More Read
Another major focus will be the development and dissemination of improved cotton varieties that are more resilient to changing weather patterns, including drought and irregular rainfall, which have become more frequent across the region.
The meeting will also provide an opportunity for researchers and industry players to share findings and best practices, with the aim of accelerating the adoption of more efficient production methods at farm level.
In addition to technical discussions, the forum is expected to address broader structural issues affecting the sector, including access to financing, input supply chains and the organisation of producer networks.
In Togo, which is hosting the event, the cotton sector has struggled in recent years with fluctuating production levels and operational challenges. Authorities are hoping the meeting will help generate actionable recommendations to revitalise the industry and improve performance.
Across the region, governments are increasingly focused on modernising agriculture as part of wider economic transformation strategies. For the cotton sector, this means not only increasing yields but also improving value addition and strengthening resilience to external shocks.
Analysts say that without significant productivity gains, African cotton producers risk losing competitiveness on the global market, particularly as other major producing regions continue to invest in technology and efficiency.
More Read
At the same time, the social importance of the crop means that reforms must balance economic objectives with the need to protect farmer incomes and ensure sustainable development.
The Lomé meeting is expected to conclude with a set of recommendations aimed at guiding policy and investment decisions in participating countries.
For stakeholders, the challenge will be translating these discussions into concrete actions that can deliver measurable improvements on the ground.
As pressure mounts to boost agricultural output and adapt to climate change, the outcome of the talks could play a critical role in shaping the future of cotton production across West and Central Africa.
Cotton is one of the most strategic cash crops in West and Central Africa, playing a central role in rural economies and export earnings across countries such as Benin, Burkina Faso, Mali and Chad. Often referred to as “white gold,” the crop supports millions of smallholder farmers and contributes significantly to foreign exchange revenues.
The region is among the world’s leading cotton-producing areas, with production largely dominated by small-scale farmers operating under state-supported or semi-liberalised systems. In many countries, cotton sectors are structured around national companies that provide inputs such as seeds and fertilisers, organise extension services and guarantee purchase prices to farmers.
Despite its importance, the sector faces persistent structural challenges that have limited productivity and competitiveness over the years. Average yields in Africa remain below global benchmarks, due in part to limited mechanisation, low fertiliser use and declining soil fertility.
Climate variability has added further pressure. Erratic rainfall patterns, prolonged dry spells and rising temperatures have increasingly disrupted planting cycles and reduced output. These changes have made cotton farming more unpredictable, particularly for smallholders who depend heavily on rain-fed agriculture.
Pest infestations also remain a major concern, with outbreaks capable of causing significant crop losses if not properly managed. While some countries have adopted improved pest control strategies, access to effective and affordable agrochemicals remains uneven.
In addition, rising input costs and limited access to financing have constrained farmers’ ability to invest in productivity-enhancing technologies. This has been compounded by fluctuations in global cotton prices, which directly affect farmgate incomes and incentives to produce.
The sector is also facing increasing competition on the global market, particularly from major producers such as United States, India and China, where higher levels of mechanisation and technological adoption have driven stronger yields and efficiency.
At the same time, international debates over cotton subsidies—especially those provided by developed countries—have long been a point of contention, with African producers arguing that such support distorts global prices and undermines their competitiveness.
Efforts to address these challenges have included regional cooperation initiatives such as the Regional Program for Integrated Cotton Production in Africa, which promotes research, knowledge-sharing and coordinated strategies to improve productivity and sustainability across participating countries.
Governments in the region have also been working to reform their cotton sectors, with a focus on improving input distribution, strengthening producer organisations and encouraging private sector participation.
More recently, there has been growing emphasis on developing climate-resilient crop varieties and promoting sustainable farming practices, as countries seek to adapt to environmental changes while maintaining output.
In Togo, which is hosting the upcoming Lomé meeting, the cotton sector has experienced fluctuating production in recent years, reflecting broader regional trends. Authorities have been seeking to revitalise the industry through policy reforms and increased support to farmers.
Overall, while cotton remains a cornerstone of agricultural economies in West and Central Africa, unlocking its full potential will depend on addressing longstanding productivity constraints, improving resilience to climate shocks and enhancing competitiveness in an increasingly challenging global market.
