Socio-economic importance of cotton and development of value chains from co-products

In Benin, the 2018/2019 cotton campaign reached 678,000 tonnes of seed cotton, making Benin part of the history of the sector. It thus passes in front of Mali, Ivory Coast, Burkina, Senegal, Togo and grants itself 1st place in the ranking of the best cotton producers in Africa. This is a deserved position in view of the efforts made by the actors of the cotton sector in Benin.

these figures illustrate the success of the reforms undertaken in the sector, the rehabilitation measures taken to relaunch the sector as well as the training of producers on technologies for improving soil fertility.

This production corresponds to nearly 180 billion CFA distributed between actors (cotton growers, ginners, input distributors, transporters, microfinance institutions, banks etc.) and contributes on average 6% of the overall GDP and achieves between 14% and 24% of GDP in the agricultural sector, brings in 12.8 billion CFA francs to the State and represents 40% of foreign currency inflows. It is the first export crop and generates more than 40% of jobs in rural areas and supports more than 50% of the population.

Its contribution to food security and the fight against poverty results from the fact that the income from this activity is used by producers to finance the schooling of children, health care and food for the family, construction leisure and health center.

In connection with this production, the production of co-products and by-products is estimated, namely: fibers at 284,760 T, seeds at 359,340 T, linters at 10,780 T, cakes at 143,736 T, shells at 150,922 T, oil at 53,901 liters and rods at 1,356,000 T.

These co-products from cotton are of significant importance, the valuation of which offers a range of opportunities and is becoming a challenge for our country. In fact, many value chains are becoming economic opportunities to be seized to relaunch the cotton sectors, which are already increasingly faced with low productivity and competitiveness.

Research and development work has shown the creation of value from the recovery of these co-products; this is the example of the Project for the Valorization of Cotton Stalks for the Manufacture of Particle Boards (VATICOPP).

The valorization of these co-products will generate a substantial and diversified income for more than 215,000 cotton growers, including 24,000 women, for the benefit of their households. The creation of processing units or industries (oil mills, feed mills, textiles, soap factories, domestic energy, etc.) will lead to the creation of thousands of occasional and permanent jobs and the development of related income-generating activities, especially for women, which will see their economic and social level considerably improved.

This option thus aims to optimize the use of co-products and to reduce the harmful effects on the environment (burning of the stems) while developing the well-being of the populations.