African Cotton Is The Lifeline Of Africa And The Main Source Of Foreign Exchange

According to the "all Africa" website, cotton is the lifeline of Africa - bringing foreign exchange to Africa and providing employment opportunities for millions of people. However, 20 years after the establishment of the African Cotton Producers Association, growers said that the cotton industry was under threat and needed to be changed.

In the whole African continent, about 20 million people grow cotton with an annual output of 3 million tons, usually using simple tools and methods. African cotton is considered superior in quality, partly because it is picked by hand. Nevertheless, African farmers have little say in the global market. Kurufei, president of the African Cotton Producers Association (AProCA), said: "The price is set by large producers, but Africa, as a minority, has to accept their offer. Although the quality of cotton we harvest by hand is excellent, we have no choice but to accept it. With the increasingly unreliable rainfall, the cotton industry needs to make adjustments. Climate change is affecting production. We think the solution is to turn to irrigation and plant cotton in the off-season. He added that the agriculture relying on rainwater irrigation has become unsustainable, and irrigation can help farmers grow outside the traditional growing season, thus increasing production.

To commemorate its 20th anniversary, the Asia Pacific Cotton Association will hold a promotional event in Garua, Cameroon later this month. At that time, the members will formulate a new strategic plan to provide guidance for the future development of the organization. Kurufei believes that if African cotton farmers want to survive and develop, they must "change their strategies in the face of difficulties". This means adapting to the climate, gaining more control over prices and finding more sensible farming methods.

(Source: website of Ministry of Commerce)