Burkina Faso seeks to hike cotton output by 50%

09 Sep '10

1 min read

Alain Yoda, Foreign Affairs Minister of Burkina Faso recently divulged that, his country was eyeing to produce around 400,000 tons of cotton during the 2009-10 plantation season.

The Minister while speaking to the media divulged that, he had discussions with the Managing Director of the French Development Agency (AFD), Dov Zerah, regarding examining the probabilities to raise the overall production of the country by 50 percent, when compared to its current production.

They intend to quickly raise the overall cotton production to 600,000 tons. Also that, they are looking for French and European associates who could help them to raise the yield of cotton in the country, Yoda said and added that, only when the cotton production in the country increases, would it be able to facilitate value addition for the country.

Cotton contributes to around 60 percent of the country's exports, while generating around three million direct and indirect employment opportunities.

Cotton is an important commodity for the country and that, as of now, they are contended with the quantity of cotton produced in the country. But then they should be investigating alternatives like raising production so that, they don't face any adversities in future.

Fibre2fashion News Desk - India