Challenges faced by African cotton producers due to climate shocks and low global prices. Here’s a summary of the key points and statistics mentioned:
- Number of Cotton Farmers: Around 20 million people across the African continent grow cotton.
- Total African Cotton Production: These farmers produce 3 million tonnes of cotton each year.
- Quality of African Cotton: African cotton is considered high quality, partly due to being handpicked.
- Price Setting Power: African farmers have little power in the global market and are forced to accept international prices set by larger producers.
- Impact of Rainfall: Unpredictable rainfall is negatively affecting cotton production. In Togo, poor rainfall led to a reduction in the expected planted area from 75,000 hectares last year, and this year it may not even reach 65,000 hectares.
- Number of African Cotton Producing Countries: The trend of declining planted areas due to rainfall issues is affecting all 15 African countries that produce cotton.
- Proposed Solution: The African Cotton Producers’ Association (AProCA) believes that moving towards irrigation and off-season growing is a potential solution to mitigate the impact of climate change.
- AProCA’s 20th Anniversary: To mark this milestone, AProCA will hold an advocacy event in Garoua, Cameroon, to develop a new strategic plan for the future.
