Cotton production in Burkina Faso, one of Africa’s top growers, is likely to cross 800,000 tons in 2017-18 season, according to the country’s cotton association. In 2016-17, farmers in Burkina Faso produced 683,000 tons of cotton, around 17 per cent more than the 586,000 tons harvested in 2015-2016. Cotton is the second largest export item for Burkina Faso.For the new season, the government has set cotton price at 245 CFA francs ($0.40) per kilogram, which is slightly higher than 235 francs in the 2016-17 season.
In 2003, Burkina Faso became the first country in Western Africa to allow cultivation of Bt cotton on an experimental basis. By 2007-08, genetically modified cotton became popular in the country. In 2009-10, farmers planted Bt cotton seeds on 120,000 hectares of land.
Cotton production in Burkina Faso, one of Africa's top growers, is likely to cross 800,000 tons in 2017-18 season, according to the country's cotton association. In 2016-17, farmers in Burkina Faso produced 683,000 tons of cotton, around 17 per cent more than the 586,000 tons harvested in 2015-2016. Cotton is the second largest export item for Burkina Faso.#
However, last season, the country returned to sowing conventional seeds. This has eliminated almost all short fibres, a Bloomberg report said quoting Georges Yameogo, general secretary of the nation’s cotton association. (RKS)
Fibre2Fashion News Desk – India