Benin is stepping up support for its cotton sector with a new incentive aimed at encouraging higher production.

 

According to decisions announced after the June 3 Cabinet meeting, cotton farmers will receive a bonus of CFA10 per kilogram if national production exceeds 700,000 tons during the 2026/27 season, which began in April. The incentive is tied directly to the overall performance of the sector rather than being distributed automatically to all producers.

 

If achieved, the production target would represent an increase of more than 8% from the previous season. According to the latest industry estimates reported by the Regional Program for Integrated Cotton Production in Africa (PR-PICA) in January, Benin produced 647,290 tons of seed cotton during the 2025/26 season across 510,897 hectares.

 

Beyond the production target itself, the measure reflects the government's determination to sustain growth in one of the country's most important economic sectors. Cotton remains Benin's leading agricultural export and a major source of foreign exchange earnings and rural income.

 

Data from the National Institute of Statistics and Demography show that exports of uncarded and uncombed cotton generated CFA223.5 billion (about $398 million) in revenue for Benin in 2025.

 

The new production bonus forms part of a broader package of measures designed to support agricultural output. In May, the government announced a 22.5% increase in fertilizer subsidies for the 2026/27 campaign, raising the allocation to CFA31.87 billion (about $56.9 million).

 

The initiative is intended to help farmers maintain access to affordable inputs at a time when global fertilizer prices remain elevated.

 

Benin's push for higher production also reflects its determination to retain its position as the region's leading cotton producer. Earlier this year, neighboring Mali, the country's main competitor and the second-largest producer in the subregion, projected a smaller harvest for the 2026/27 season.

 

Authorities in Bamako expect cotton production to reach about 650,000 tons during the period.