Cotton from UEMOA The White Gold from West Africa Conquering the World Market Summary The West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA) ................................................................................. 3 West African cotton producing countries map ...................................................................................................... 4 Cotton growing in the UEMOA ............................................................................................................................... 5 The cotton sector in the UEMOA ........................................................................................................................... 6 West African fibre : specifications and values ....................................................................................................... 7 The quality approach : towards zero contamination ............................................................................................. 8 Cotton ginning in the UEMOA ............................................................................................................................... 9 Lint cotton marketing ........................................................................................................................................... 10 Cotton-textile industry in the UEMOA.................................................................................................................. 11 Benin .................................................................................................................................................................... 12 Burkina Faso ......................................................................................................................................................... 13 Côte d’Ivoire ......................................................................................................................................................... 14 Mali ....................................................................................................................................................................... 15 Senegal ................................................................................................................................................................. 16 Togo ...................................................................................................................................................................... 17 Major contacts ...................................................................................................................................................... 18 The West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA) The UEMOA: a successful synergy for sub-regional development The West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA) is an organisation aimed at the socio- economic development of its members countries. Founded in 1994, the UEMOA encompasses eight countries in West Africa. With a high level of human and natural resources, the UEMOA area has a great economic potential and its location is favourable to the cultivation of several types of tropical cash and food crops. Cotton sector, key economic hub in UEMOA area the sub-region Area 3.5 million km2 The white gold, cotton, has been cultivated for several generations and generates employment as Population well as direct and indirect income for more than 104.7 million 15 million people. Members countries Cotton grown in the UEMOA area accounts for - Benin approximately 8% of world cotton exports and 7% - Burkina Faso of the world cotton growing area (2014-2015). - Côte d’Ivoire - Guinea Bissau The cotton sector is expanding through an - Mali increasingly transparent governance of the sector, - Niger creating value addition along the value chain. - Senegal - Togo COTTON FROM UEMOA 3 Cotton growing in the UEMOA A green cotton for the benefit of Cotton growing areas and economic and social development production trends African cotton is rain-fed cotton. Low pesticide use In the UEMOA, cotton is cultivated by small family- ensures a comparatively low polluting and hand owned farms. Cotton growing areas increased and picking preserves the intrinsic qualities of the reached the highest levels in 2004-2006 before cotton fibre. African cotton, thus, has a very low collapsing. The crisis that followed affected the carbon footprint, thus protecting the biodiversity cotton sector over the last years. Today, the of the environment. cotton sector in the sub-region is reviving thanks to the sharp rise of world cotton prices. In the UEMOA, the cotton sector remains the main source of incomes for more than 15 million people, improving their living conditions, and employs around 70% of the labour force. Cotton fields in Senegal Cotton growing areas in the UEMOA Meeting between producers and ginners during the agricultural season Areas (ha) Country 2013-2014 2014-2015 The cotton sector is the engine of economic development in rural areas. It provides incomes for Benin 347,000 405,000 farmers to finance schoolbooks for children, Burkina Faso 680,000 630,300 medical treatments, as well as food and thus 360,000 400,000 contributes substantially to food security and Côte d’Ivoire poverty reduction in the sub-region. Mali 480,500 523,200 Senegal 32,300 25,000 Moreover, cotton companies in West Africa maintain rural infrastructures, among others, and Togo 93,000 134,000 thus support indirectly food crop development. Total 1,993,500 2,117,500 4 COTTON FROM UEMOA Cotton growing in the UEMOA A green cotton for the benefit of Cotton growing areas and economic and social development production trends African cotton is rain-fed cotton. Low pesticide use In the UEMOA, cotton is cultivated by small family- ensures a comparatively low polluting and hand owned farms. Cotton growing areas increased and picking preserves the intrinsic qualities of the reached the highest levels in 2004-2006 before cotton fibre. African cotton, thus, has a very low collapsing. The crisis that followed affected the carbon footprint, thus protecting the biodiversity cotton sector over the last years. Today, the of the environment. cotton sector in the sub-region is reviving thanks to the sharp rise of world cotton prices. In the UEMOA, the cotton sector remains the main source of incomes for more than 15 million people, improving their living conditions, and employs around 70% of the labour force. Cotton fields in Senegal Cotton growing areas in the UEMOA Meeting between producers and ginners during the agricultural season Areas (ha) Country 2013-2014 2014-2015 The cotton sector is the engine of economic development in rural areas. It provides incomes for Benin 347,000 405,000 farmers to finance schoolbooks for children, Burkina Faso 680,000 630,300 medical treatments, as well as food and thus 360,000 400,000 contributes substantially to food security and Côte d’Ivoire poverty reduction in the sub-region. Mali 480,500 523,200 Senegal 32,300 25,000 Moreover, cotton companies in West Africa maintain rural infrastructures, among others, and Togo 93,700 134,000 thus support indirectly food crop development. Total 1,993,500 2,117,500 COTTON FROM UEMOA 5 The cotton sector in the UEMOA Promotion of research and development of new seed varieties Through the promotion of research in seed variety development and technical and financial support provided to farmers on good agricultural practices, a potential yield of 1.5 to 2 tons of seed cotton per hectare, depending on the areas of production, could be reached. The current seed cotton yield is lower than 1 ton per hectare. Research and seed certification laboratory in Burkina Faso Classification and quality control Seed cotton classification is undertaken by technical experts, followed by several visual and manual classification processes as well as technical quality control in the ginnery (brightness, staple length, micronaire, stickiness). Around 20% of the production is instrument-tested. Cotton classification room equipped with HVI machines in Burkina Faso Peak, average and expected seed cotton production in UEMOA’s members countries (tons) 700,000 600,000 500,000 400,000 300,000 200,000 100,000 0 Benin Burkina Faso Côte d’Ivoire Mali Senegal Togo Average production (2009-2014) Peak production Production 2014-2015 In 2014-2015, the total seed cotton production by UEMOA’s members countries is around 2,196,300 tons. 6 COTTON FROM UEMOA African fibre: characteristics and values Handpicked, African cotton keeps its authenticity and purity. African fibre ranks among the highest category of medium-long fibres. African cotton is 100% rain-fed and its cultivation is non-polluting, as cotton plants grow in their natural environment, thus protecting the biodiversity. Fibres are parallel with little preparation as cotton is handpicked and ginning is done smoothly. Medium characteristics of West-African fibre Length: the average length of the fibre is 1"1/8 with an upward tendency. Strength: in Africa, the fibre is one of the most resistant and tenacious. It can reach 32 g/tex. Micronaire: it ranges between 3,8 to 4,2. Uniformity: the average value is 80%. Witness box containing different grades of cotton in Mali More than 80% of UEMOA’s fibre is classified as higher grades The use of modern methods, taking into account the global development and local environment, improves each year the growing, harvesting and ginning techniques to obtain a better fibre in African standards certified by the African Cotton Association terms