(Ecofin Agency) - Burkina Faso, alongside Mali and Benin, is a key player in West Africa's cotton production. Following a lukewarm 2023/2024 season, authorities are banking on a recovery in the cotton sector for the upcoming season.

The Burkinabe government sets its sights on ramping up cottonseed production to 598,250 tons during the 2024/2025 cotton season, according to the outcome of the latest Cabinet meeting held on May 15.

This projected stockpile marks a 55% surge compared to the previous year's harvest of 383,144 tons. Specifically, authorities anticipate production of 595,000 tons of conventional cottonseed and 3,250 tons of organic cotton. These upbeat forecasts stem partly from expected growth in cultivated land, estimated at 706,500 hectares compared to 535,304 hectares a year earlier.

"In 2023/2024, we observed a roughly 25% improvement in conventional cottonseed yields per hectare, reaching 827 kilograms per hectare," highlighted Serge Poda, Minister of Industrial Development, Trade, Handicrafts, and Small and Medium Enterprises.

Furthermore, the government plans to allocate CFA11 billion (around $18.2 million) to subsidize input purchases, aiming to bolster support for farmers. In Burkina Faso, cotton cultivation predominantly thrives in the Hauts-Bassins and Cascades regions.