Benin targets 640,000 tonnes of cotton for 2024-2025 season

Benin is projecting a cotton harvest of 640,000 tonnes for the 2024-2025 growing season, with a gross market value estimated at 192 billion CFA francs (approximately $308.2 million), according to Gaston Dossouhoui, Benin’s Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, and Fisheries.

Speaking at the official launch of the 2024-2025 cotton marketing season in Sokka, Sinendé municipality, Dossouhoui highlighted that Benin has seen a remarkable annual average growth in cotton production of 139% compared to the 2015-2016 season, which serves as a benchmark for industry performance.

“The average national yields for cotton have risen significantly, from 877 kilograms per hectare in 2015/2016 to 1,198 kilograms per hectare for the current 2024/2025 season,” Dossouhoui noted.

He further emphasized the critical role of the cotton sector in Benin’s economy.

“This sector provides livelihoods for millions of Beninese families, creates both direct and indirect jobs in transportation, handling, and industry, and supports the development of rural communities through the payment of local development taxes to municipalities,” he stated.