WT/CFMC/W/91  
 
3 May 2021  
(21-3752) Page: 1/47 
Sub-Committee on Cotton  Original: French  
 
  
DIRECTOR -GENERAL'S CONSULTATIVE FRAMEWORK MECHANISM ON COTTON  
COTTON RESEARCH ENHANCEMENT PROGRAMME  
FOR THE SUSTAINABLE RECOVERY OF THE SECTOR1 
Communication from Burkina Faso  
The following communication, dated 3 May 2021, is being circulated at the request of the delegation 
of Burkina Faso.  
 
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The Permanent Mission of Burkina Faso is submitting the project below, prepared by the Government 
of Burkina Faso, with a view to receiving technical and financial assistance f rom the cotton sector 
development partners in the framework of the Director -General's Consultative Framework 
Mechanism on Cotton.  
 
1  TITLE : COTTON RESEARCH ENHANCEMENT PROGRAMME FOR THE SUSTAINABLE 
RECOVERY OF THE SECTOR  
1.1  CONTEXT AND JUSTIFICATION  
1.1.  The cotton sector in Burkina Faso provides income for approximately four million people and 
supports several other upstream and downstream economic sectors. It accounts for more than 4% 
of GDP and more than 28% of the country's agricultural GDP . However,  this contribution is likely 
even higher, given a number of external factors and that cotton is a mainstay of other crops such 
as cereals.  The sector's contribution to the economy should also include the monetary value of its 
provision of fertilizers and pes ticides, as well as the transport of seed cotton from the fields to the 
ginneries and of cotton lint to the ports. Cotton by -products, such as seeds, supply the oil and oil-
cake processing industries. The quantity of fibre processed domestically by the wea vers belonging 
to Filature du Sahel (FILSAH) gives added value to the cotton sector.  
1.2.  Nevertheless, the cotton sector is facing a number of challenges and constraints, including: (i) 
climate variability and change; (ii) low productivity of varieties in the  field; (iii) mismatch between 
the fibre length and micronaire and current market demand; (iv) increasingly difficult control of 
certain pests due to a rise in resistance to pyrethroids (insecticides); (v) degradation and low fertility 
of soil; (vi) proble ms related to land tenure insecurity; (vii) limited farming equipment; (viii) high 
prices and poor traceability of inputs (fertilizers, insecticides, herbicides); (ix) adverse impacts of 
farming practices on the environment, and on human and animal health.   
1.3.  Despite the changes the cotton sector has undergone, its main actors have contributed to its 
development. The sector experienced, for example, periods of crisis in 1996 and 1998 in the form 
of pest resistance to insecticides, resulting in a drop in produ ction and considerable strain on 
producer organizations.  To deal with these crises, in 1998, the Regional Cotton Protection 
Programme for West Africa (PR -PRAO) was created, later becoming the Regional Programme for 
Integrated Cotton Production in Africa (P R-PICA). Research on genetically modified cotton began in 
2003, leading to the commercial production of Bt cotton from 2009. Production continued until 2015 
when the company broke with Monsanto due to difficulties with the shortening of the Bt cotton fibre . 
 
1 In French only.  WT/CFMC/W/91  
 
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  The sector is now facing a further crisis with a drop in yields to around 700kg/ha, taking Burkina 
Faso from top producer in Africa in 2014 -2015 to fourth in 2018 -2019.  
1.4.  In response to the cotton sector's various crises, researchers have consistently exer cised 
pragmatism by proposing appropriate solutions to actors' concerns. Over the same period, and with 
the Government's support, the National Scientific and Technical Research Centre (CNRST) has also 
adopted a capacity -building plan for research teams and  organizations (human resources, 
infrastructure, equipment) aimed at putting the research programmes into operation.  
1.5.  To deal with the challenges and constraints, when reviving cotton production it will be 
necessary to draw on the expertise of the CNRST (I nstitute for the Environment and Agricultural 
Research (INERA), Institute for Research in Applied Science and Technology (IRSAT), Health Science 
Research Institute (IRSS)), and that of universities and other competent bodies under, for example, 
the ministr ies for agriculture, health, the environment and trade ministries.  
1.6.  Most of all, cotton research requires capacity -building in terms of infrastructure, logistics and 
techniques, to support the recovery of cotton production.  
1.2  ACTION AREAS AND TARGET GROUPS  
1.7.  The project covers cotton production areas in Burkina Faso and specifically targets actors 
engaged in research, to improve  the performance of the various links in the chain.  
1.8.  The programme's target groups are the CNRST (INERA, IRSAT, IRSS, INSS), together wit h the 
expertise of universities and other competent bodies under, for example, the ministries for 
agriculture, health, the environment and trade ministries.  
1.9.  Specific support could therefore be envisaged for the various bodies assisting cotton research 
actors. 
1.3  OBJECTIVES AND EXPECTED OUTCOMES  
1.3.1   Overall objective  
1.10.   The overall objective is to galvanize cotton research in Burkina Faso, in order to step up its 
contribution to the sustainability of the crop, to producers' income and to the competitiveness of the 
cotton value chain.  
1.3.2   Specific objectives  
1.11.   The specific objectives of the programme are:  
a. to improve the governance of cotton research in Burkina Faso;  
b. to strengthen the technical, logistical, infrastructural and human capacities of cotton 
research in Burkina Fa so;  
c. to adapt the subject areas and tools of Burkina Faso's cotton research to ensure 
sustainable production;  
d. to better integrate Burkina Faso's cotton research into the domestic cotton value chain 
and into the international scientific community.  WT/CFMC/W/91  
 
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  1.3.3   Outcomes  
1.12.   The main expected outcomes are:  
a. the governance of cotton research in Burkina Faso is improved;  
b. the human, financial, technical, logistical, infrastructural and logistical capacities of cotton 
research in Burkina Faso are strengthened;  
c. the subject areas and tools of Burkina Faso's cotton research are adapted to ensure 
sustainable production; and  
d. the integration of Burkina Faso's cotton research into the domestic cotton value chain and 
into the international scientific community is improved.  
1.4  PROJECT DESCRIPTION AND ROLE OF THE VARIOUS ACTORS  
1.13.   The cotton research enhancement programme seeks to galvanize cotton research in Burkina 
Faso, to step up its contribution to the sustainability of the crop, to producers' income and to the 
competitiveness of the c otton value chain.  
1.14.   The programme includes the following components:  
a. Management and coordination of cotton research;  
b. Organization of programme committees;  
c. Promotion of scientific activities;  
d. Communication and information management;  
e. Monitoring/evaluation of  activities;  
f. Strengthening human resources;  
g. Capacity -building of research infrastructure;  
h. Capacity -building of research techniques and logistics;  
i. Diversification of research funding sources;  
j. Integrating environmental and climatic constraints into the resea rch process;  
k. Consideration of socio -economic constraints in the research process;  
l. Creating  opportunities for consultation and discussion between researchers and actors in 
the cotton value chain;  
m. Improving the dissemination and readability of research resul ts; 
n. Improving coordination between research, development and production at national and 
regional level;  
o. Improving the relevance, visibility and recognition of Burkina Faso's cotton research 
worldwide.  WT/CFMC/W/91  
 
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  1.15.   The main actors in the cotton sector are producers, cotton companies, cotton research, banks 
and other private actors (transporters, input suppliers, oil producers, spinners, etc.).  
The state plays a cross -cutting role in the sector and is mainly involved  in establishing a legal and 
regulatory framework and shaping the development of the cotton sector.  
 
The Inter -Professional Cotton Association of Burkina Faso (AICB) is the body that manages the 
sector.  
 
Cotton producers belonging to the National Union of Cotton Producers' Cooperatives (UNPCB) grow 
cotton.  
 
The cotton companies (since September 2004, there have been three companies in Burkina Faso: 
SOFITEX, SOCOMA and FASO COTON) promote cotton growing, each of them in the area established 
by the P rotocol of agreement on the specifications applicable to cotton subsector operators in Burkina 
Faso.  
 
Cotton research is carried out by INERA, under the CNRST.  
 
1.5  STRATEGY FOR IMPLEMENTATION, ORGANIZATION AND MANAGEMENT OF THE 
PROJECT  
1.16.   In implementing the cot ton research recovery programme, emphasis must be placed on 
targeting the expected outcomes and ensuring the efficiency of actions, while taking into account 
the scarcity of resources.  
1.17.   All actors will be involved in overseeing the recovery of cotton resear ch. A steering committee 
composed of the Ministry of Trade, the Ministry of Agriculture, the CNRST, INERA, the AICB (the 
Cotton Companies Trade Association (APROCOB) and UNPCB), and technical and financial partners 
will be formed. It will be responsible fo r guiding advocacy initiatives and ensuring that the recovery 
of cotton research is carried out as intended. It will ensure that the bodies set up to improve the 
governance of cotton research are convened.  
1.18.   The technical component of the steering committee is the technical committee composed of 
the CNRST, INERA and the AICB. It decides on the allocation of the leveraged resources and 
establishes the technical specifications for the procurement of goods and services. It also services 
the steering committee an d prepares reports on the programme's implementation for its 
consideration.  
1.6  COSTS AND FINANCING  
1.19.   The total cost of the project is estimated at EUR 14,194,000 (CFAF 9,310,647 ,597) and 
financing is being sought from interested donor countries and organization s in the form of a grant.  
1.7  CONTACT ORGANIZATION  
Ministère de l 'industrie, du commerce et de l 'artisanat  (Ministry of Industry, Trade and Crafts)  
Secrétariat permanent de la filière coton libéralisée  (Permanent Secretariat for Monitoring the 
Liberalized Cott on Subsector)  
01 BP 6453 Ouagadougou 01 Burkina Faso  
Tel.: (+226) 2540 7755  
 
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  WT/CFMC/W/91  
 
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  PP 5-47 - Offset (PDF appended)