Ivory Coast aims to increase its cotton production by almost 29% in the 2026/27 season, reaching around 400,000 tons, according to the national cotton processors association on Wednesday (24). According to the association's executive director, Brou Kouakou, the goal is part of a long-term strategy to strengthen the sector and expand national production. "In this new season, the cotton sector aims to reach the 400,000 ton mark," Kouakou told Reuters. According to him, the objective is to gradually increase production to 600,000 tons by 2030. In the 2025/26 season, the country's cotton production totaled 310,300 tons, slightly below the 311,000 tons recorded in the previous season. According to Kouakou, unfavorable weather conditions reduced producers' interest in cultivation, impacting the activity's performance. The number of cotton farmers also decreased. In 2025/26, approximately 80,000 producers cultivated cotton in the country, compared to approximately 100,000 registered in the 2024/25 season. Despite the stability in production, crop productivity showed a significant improvement. According to the association, the average yield reached 1,145 kilograms per hectare in the 2025/26 harvest, an increase of 31.5% compared to the 871 kilograms per hectare obtained in the previous cycle. In Ivory Coast, the cotton season extends from May to April. Planting takes place between May and June, while harvesting is carried out from October to January. Processing and marketing activities are concentrated between November and April.
This text was translated by machine from Brazilian Portuguese.