Cameroon cotton production reflects positive trend
28 Apr '12
2 min read
Indicating a positive trend, the production of raw cotton in the Central African country of Cameroon grew from 2010-11's 161,900 tons to 180,000 tons during the 2011-12 season, state firm SODECOTTON stated.
Attributing the rise in production to increase in area under cultivation and Government subsidies, SODECOTTON said the production is likely to rise to 220,000 tons this season and further to 250,000 tons by 2015.
In order to encourage cotton farming and to curb the menace of wide-spread smuggling to bordering nations, SODECOTTON raised the farmgate prices for cotton by 27 percent to 250 CFA francs or US$ 0.5 per kg during last season.
As a result, the area under cotton cultivation in Cameroon increased from 143,000 hectares in 2010-11 to 149,000 hectares during 2011-12 cotton season, which runs from November to April.
SODECOTTON expects the area under cotton cultivation to further grow to over 150,000 hectares in 2012-13 season.
The Cameroon Government's decision to subsidise the buying of farming inputs to the extent of six billion CFA francs or US$ 12 million also played an important part in raising cotton production, according to experts.
Cameroon's cotton production grew to historic 306,263 tons in 2004-05, but it slipped to 110,000 tons in 2009-10, following a drop in world cotton prices.