• Burkina Faso expects seed cotton production to rise 15% to 336,812 tonnes in the 2025/2026 season.

• Farmers expanded cotton-planted areas by 13% to 391,407 hectares, while yields rose 2% to 861 kg per hectare.

• The rebound could return Burkina Faso to the top three cotton producers in the CFA zone, ahead of Côte d’Ivoire.

Burkina Faso expects seed cotton production to reach 336,812 tonnes in 2025/2026, representing a 15% increase from the previous season. The Regional Program for Integrated Cotton Production in Africa (PR-PICA) reported the estimate in its latest sector bulletin published on Jan. 9, citing industry data.

The outlook reflects a sharp expansion in cultivated areas. Data compiled by PR-PICA showed that farmers increased cotton-planted land by 13%, or about 44,629 hectares, bringing the total cultivated area to 391,407 hectares.

At the same time, yields are expected to rise by 2% to 861 kilograms per hectare in 2025/2026. The data suggest improved application of agronomic practices, particularly in fertilizer use and phytosanitary treatments.

Overall, the 2025/2026 harvest forecast, if confirmed, would mark a rebound for Burkina Faso’s cotton sector after three consecutive years of decline.

PR-PICA data showed that seed cotton production fell from nearly 519,000 tonnes in 2021/2022 to 292,660 tonnes in 2024/2025. The figures indicate a cumulative drop of nearly 44% over the period.

A Return to the CFA Zone Top Three?

The strong outlook for the 2025/2026 season could reshape the ranking of cotton-producing countries within the CFA zone, the core of African cotton output.

Market projections point to Benin and Mali finishing first and second in the region, respectively. Burkina Faso appears well positioned to overtake Côte d’Ivoire and reclaim third place.

In Côte d’Ivoire, PR-PICA forecasts projected a 2025/2026 harvest of 317,000 tonnes, marking an 11% decline from the previous season’s 357,267 tonnes.

The main factors behind Côte d’Ivoire’s lower output mirror challenges across the CFA zone. These factors include irregular rainfall during September and October, which coincide with the cotton boll maturation phase, a critical period for productivity.

                           Rainfall

Evolution of rainfall by country in October

“In most countries, rainfall scarcity was observed, particularly in dry and intermediate zones, signaling the end of the rainy season. This situation could negatively affect the development of late plantings, resulting in low productivity,” PR-PICA said in its information bulletin published in November.

According to the organization, Côte d’Ivoire recorded 89 millimeters less rainfall in October 2025 compared with October in the previous season. The remainder of the campaign will determine whether Burkina Faso can consolidate its regional position in cotton production.

This article was initially published in French by Stéphanas Assocle

Adapted in English by Ange Jason Quenum