Togo, a West African nation on the Gulf of Guinea, during the ongoing season 2017-18 which open in May this year expects cotton production of 130,000 tons an increase of 20.37 percent over last season’s cotton output of 108,000 tons, according to the estimates released by the Nouvelle Société Cotonnière du Togo (NSCT).

The increase in cotton production is expected as cotton is sown on 170,000 hectares compared to the planned sown area of 160,000 hectares.

Meanwhile, NSCT has announced the start of harvest and commercialization for this season. During the 2017-18 season, the minimum price of CFA240 ($0.44) for first grade cotton and CFA220 ($0.40) is trading for second grade cotton.

In view of the expected increase in output this year, a fifth ginning plant has also opened, in addition to the four ginning plants already operational at Notsè, Atakpamé, Kara and Dapaong this year.

Togo’s first industrial crop cotton generates 20%-40% of the country’s export revenues and contributes to up to 4.3% of its GDP.

The Togolese government is also making efforts to boost the country’s cotton sector. They are aiming to increase the country’s cotton output to 220,000 tons.