(Ecofin Agency) - West Africa’s cotton output should increase by 19% in the 2016-17 season, according to forecast by the United States Department of Agriculture. It will rise to 1.9 million Mt from 1.6 million Mt the previous season.

The main countries that will contribute to this increase are Burkina Faso, Mali, Cote d’Ivoire and Chad. Burkina’s will produce 20% more cotton over the period considered than in the last (581,000 Mt), thus 700,000 Mt. Burkina will thus remain the region’s leading cotton producer.

Mali will record a similar trend as cotton output in the country is expected to reach 629,000 Mt against 513,000 Mt in the previous season (+22.6%). Cote d’Ivoire and Chad will also see their outputs increase, but moderately. The first’s production will rise from 310,000 Mt to 360,000 (16.1%) and the second’s from 150,000 Mt to 171,000 Mt (14%).

Moreover, price to producers will also increase compared to the previous agricultural season. It will stand at FCFA265/Kg, FCFA250/Kg and FCFA235/Kg in Ivory Coast, Mali and Burkina Faso respectively.