Cotton Production In Benin Is Expected To Exceed 310 Thousand Tons In 08/09.

Cotton production in Benin is expected to exceed 310 thousand tons in 2008/09 and 268054 tons in the previous quarter.

The Benin Cotton Industry Association says this forecast is far below the original target of 384 thousand tons of seed cotton.

Benin's Ministry of agriculture believes that the increase in output this season benefited from the government's measures to stimulate the enthusiasm of cotton farmers.

These measures are mainly aimed at reducing agricultural prices and maintaining seed cotton prices in the previous quarter.

By taking measures, the price of fertilizer sold to cotton farmers is priced at 235 West African francs per kilogram, while the government subsidized 11134 West African francs per kilogram, amounting to 6 billion 900 million West illegal francs for the import of 62 thousand tons.

The aim of the government is to encourage Benin cotton growers to increase their production, because cotton is the dominant industry of Benin's economy and a means of livelihood for the 3 million Benin people.