Chinese mission to help Benin increase cotton production

A Chinese mission is currently visiting Benin to help the country's cotton farmers increase their productivity, an official source in Cotonou told Xinhua on Tuesday

"Our objective is to improve Benin's cotton yield by introducing a Chinese cotton variety that gives 6 tons of cotton per hectare against a Beninese variety that produces less than 2 tons per hectare," head of the mission told Xinhua.

He said besides introducing the Chinese cotton variety in Benin, the mission he leads will also train Beninese farmers on best farming practices.

In Benin, cotton represents 40 percent of foreign earnings, 12 to 13 percent of the Gross Domestic Product, about 60 percent of the national industrial fabric and it is a source of income for more than a third of the population.

Despite the enormous efforts made by the Beninese government and its partners to develop the cotton sector, the performance of the sector has remained poor.

For the last several years, Benin's cotton yield has continued to drop, raising questions over the viability of the sector in Benin.

Besides a drop in the international prices, other internal obstacles have continued to threaten cotton production. Some of the factors include reduced fertility of the soil, climatic changes, high production costs and lack of training for farmers. Endit