Cote d’Ivoire’s cotton output in 2010/11 could increase by up to 25 per cent in the season as higher prices encourage production, a top industry official said.

But cotton output remains just over half its level before war divided the nation.

Kouadio N’Guetta, executive secretary of the cotton growers’ association, said high prices had attracted tens of thousands more farmers to the crop since the 2009/10 season finished with 200,000 tonnes of cotton produced.

``Our forecast for the next season currently ranges from 220,000 to 250,000 tonnes,” N’Guetta said.