Production drop, aging farmers lead Togo to plan cotton sector revival

Farmers are increasingly shifting to food crops like maize, soybeans, and yams, which offer faster returns and lower risks.

The goal is to exceed 92,500 tonnes of cotton—the target for the 2024-25 season—in the next season. However, unpredictable weather, a lack of young working population and rising competition from other crops are big dampners.

The 2024-25 season target is over a 50-per cent rise over the last harvest. But the challenges are pests, climate shocks and declining participation.

Last season, production reached just 60,500 tonnes, despite slight yield improvements at 797 kg per hectare. The number of cotton farmers continues to fall, with only 76,000 growers involved this season compared to 111,000 in the 2020-21 season, according to a domestic media outlet.

Authorities have launched the planting season earlier this time to take advantage of favourable weather conditions. So far, 118,000 hectares have been sown, the highest in five years.

The government has also introduced a recovery plan, which includes training 120,000 farmers, expanding irrigation, support for mechanisation and introducing regenerative agriculture practices. Public-private partnerships are also being explored to support these efforts.

Another important measure is maintaining the purchase price of seed cotton at CFA300 per kilogram, despite global price pressures.

After three years of decline, world cotton prices have fallen another 14 per cent in 2024. The government will also continue input subsidies to reduce production costs for farmers.

ALCHEMPro News Desk (DS)