WT/CFMC/W/85  
 
19 February 2021  
(21-1106) Page: 1/57 
Sub-Committee on Cotton  Original: French  
 
  
FEASIBILITY STUDY ON THE TRANSFER OF TECHNOLOGY AND KNOW -HOW  
FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF  COTTON BY-PRODUCTS  IN THE  
FOUR COUNTRIES OF THE C4: THE CASE OF BENIN  
PROVISIONAL REPORT OF BENIN  
The following communication , dated 12  November  2020, is being circulated  at the request of the 
delegation of the Republic of Benin.1 
 
_______________  
 
  
 
1 This communication relates to a study conducted by independent consultants Mr  Alexis Hougni, 
Mr Armel Joël Lawson and Mr Gnonna Soul -Kifoulyet Midingoyi . Its content mirrors that of the study, as 
presented at the Thematic Session on Cotton By -Products Dev elopment in LDCs on 12  November  2020.  WT/CFMC/W/85  
 
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  ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS  
- We thank the World Trade Organization (WTO) for supporting this feasibility study into cotton 
by-products and co -products in Benin.  
- We also extend our sincere thanks to all stakeholders , both those  in the sector (producers, 
ginners) and others (millers, spinners, processors), who agreed to provide us with  the 
information needed to carry out this study.  
  WT/CFMC/W/85  
 
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  CONTENTS  
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS  ................................ ................................ ................................ ..... 2 
CONTENTS  ................................ ................................ ................................ ........................  3 
LIST OF TABLES  ................................ ................................ ................................ ...............  5 
LIST OF CHARTS  ................................ ................................ ................................ ...............  6 
ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS ................................ ................................ ....................  7 
1   INTRODUCTION  ................................ ................................ ................................ ..........  8 
1.1   Background a nd justification  ................................ ................................ .........................  8 
1.2   Study objectives  ................................ ................................ ................................ ..........  8 
1.3   Methodology  ................................ ................................ ................................ ...............  9 
1.3.1    Review of the literature  ................................ ................................ .............................  9 
1.3.2    Choice of sites and sampling  ................................ ................................ ......................  9 
1.3.3    Collection of primary data  ................................ ................................ ......................... 11 
1.3.4    Data processing and report writing  ................................ ................................ ............ 12 
1.4   Difficulties encountered  ................................ ................................ ............................... 12 
2   OVERVIEW OF THE COTTON INDUSTRY IN BENIN  ................................ .....................  12 
2.1   History of institutions and development of the cotton sector in Benin  ................................ 12 
2.1.1    Pre-independence  ................................ ................................ ................................ ....12 
2.1.2    Post-independence  ................................ ................................ ................................ ...12 
2.1.3    Revolutionary period  ................................ ................................ ................................ 13 
2.1.4   Privatization and market liberalization  ................................ ................................ ........ 13 
2.1.5    From 2000 to 2010  ................................ ................................ ................................ ..14 
2.1.6    Current situation at institutional level  ................................ ................................ ......... 14 
2.2   Development of production  ................................ ................................ .......................... 14 
2.2.1    Production, sown area and seed cotton yield  ................................ ............................... 14 
2.2.2    Production, sown area and cotton lint yield  ................................ ................................ .16 
2.3   Institutions and current operations in the sector  ................................ ............................. 18 
2.4   Policy environment analysis: legal and regulatory frameworks  ................................ ......... 20 
2.4.1    Legal environment  ................................ ................................ ................................ ...20 
2.4.2    Institutional environment  ................................ ................................ .......................... 20 
2.5   Importance and usefulness of cotton by -products  ................................ ........................... 21 
2.5.1    Seed ................................ ................................ ................................ ...................... 21 
2.5.2    Cotton kernels  ................................ ................................ ................................ ......... 21 
2.5.3    Oilcake  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................... 21 
2.5.4    Fine down or linters  ................................ ................................ ................................ .22 
2.5.5    Husks  ................................ ................................ ................................ ..................... 22 
2.5.6    Gossypol  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................ 22 
2.5.7    Use of cotton stalks  ................................ ................................ ................................ .22 
3   OUTCOMES  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................  24 
3.1   By-products and value chain in the seed cotton primary production subsector  .................... 24 WT/CFMC/W/85  
 
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  3.1.1    Subsector stakeholders  ................................ ................................ ............................ 24 
3.1.1.1    Producers  ................................ ................................ ................................ ............ 24 
3.1.1.2    Other stakeholders and stakeholder associations  ................................ ...................... 25 
3.1.2    Subsector by -products  ................................ ................................ ............................. 25 
3.1.2.1    Seed cotton  ................................ ................................ ................................ .......... 26 
3.1.2.2    Cotton stalks  ................................ ................................ ................................ ........ 27 
3.1.2.3    Cotton leaves  ................................ ................................ ................................ .......27 
3.1.3    Market analysis for by -products  ................................ ................................ ................. 27 
3.1.4    Assessment of the by -products available in the primary product ion subsector  ................. 28 
3.1.5    Strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats: by -products  ................................ ....29 
3.2   Cotton ginning subsector  ................................ ................................ ............................. 30 
3.2.1    Subsector stakeholders  ................................ ................................ ............................ 30 
3.2.2    Subsector by -products  ................................ ................................ ............................. 30 
3.2.3    Market analysis of by -products from this subsector  ................................ ...................... 31 
3.2.4    Strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats: by -products  ................................ ....34 
3.3   By-products in the milli ng subsector  ................................ ................................ ............. 35 
3.3.1    Mapping of subsector stakeholders ................................ ................................ ............. 35 
3.3.2    Subsector by -products  ................................ ................................ ............................. 36 
3.3.2.1    Refined oil  ................................ ................................ ................................ ............ 37 
3.3.2.2    Oilcake  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................ 37 
3.3.2.3    Husks  ................................ ................................ ................................ .................. 39 
3.3.2.4    Animal feed  ................................ ................................ ................................ .......... 39 
3.3.2.5    Ash and fatty acids  ................................ ................................ ................................ 41 
3.3.3    Market analysis of by -products from this subsector  ................................ ...................... 41 
3.3.4    Other institutions supporting the subsector  ................................ ................................ .44 
3.3.5    Strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats: by -products  ................................ ....44 
3.4   Other stakeholders questioned  ................................ ................................ ..................... 45 
3.4.1    Mixed farmers  ................................ ................................ ................................ ......... 45 
3.4.2    Weavers  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................. 46 
3.4.3    Platform to harness the value of cotton stalks through particle board  ............................. 47 
3.4.4    Soap producers  ................................ ................................ ................................ .......49 
3.4.5    Spinners: stakeholders in the textile sector  ................................ ................................ .50 
4   RANKING COTTON BY -PRODUCTS IN ORDER OF PRIORITY  ................................ ....... 51 
5   CONCLUSION ................................ ................................ ................................ .............  53 
BIBLIOGRAPHY  ................................ ................................ ................................ ..............  55 
LIST OF SOME OF THE CONTRIBUTORS  ................................ ................................ ..........  56 
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  LIST OF TABLES  
Table 1: Distribution of producers questioned, by department and commune  ............................ 11 
Table 2: Distribution of factories by department and commune  ................................ ................ 11 
Table  3: Changes in the production and export of cotton lint ................................ ................... 17 
Table 4: Socio -economic characteristics of the producers questioned  ................................ ........ 24 
Table 5: Socio -economic characteristics of the producers questioned (cont'd)  ............................ 25 
Table 6: Cultivation of seed cotton during the 2019/2020 season  ................................ ............. 26 
Table 7: The various uses made of cotton stalks by the producers  ................................ ........... 27 
Table 8: Number of people questioned who use cotton fields as cattle pens  ............................... 27 
Table 9 Number of producers who have sold cotton crop residues  ................................ ............ 28 
Table  10: Production of seed cotton and estimate of cotton stalk quantities ............................... 28 
Table  11: Strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats in the primary  
production subsector  ................................ ................................ ................................ .......... 29 
Table  12: Ginning subsector by -products  ................................ ................................ .............. 31 
Table  13: Quantities, values and importing countries for seed cotton of Beninese origin  ............. 32 
Table  14: Ginning subsector SWOT  ................................ ................................ ...................... 35 
Table  15: Estimated quantities of by -products from the milling subsector, in tonnes (t)  .............. 37 
Table  16: Quantity of by -products obtained from one tonne of cottonseed  ................................ 41 
Table  17: Quantity of by -products obtained from one tonne of cottonseed  ................................ 42 
Table  18: Estimate of milling companies' turnover in 2018  ................................ ...................... 42 
Table  19: Imports (in tonnes) of o ils into Benin  ................................ ................................ .....43 
Table  20: Quantities (tonnes) of exports of oilcake and other solid residues,  
whether or not ground or in the form of pellets, resulting from extraction  ................................ .43 
Table  21: SWOT for the milling subsector ................................ ................................ .............. 44 
Table  22: Stakeholders' level of involvement and influence  ................................ ..................... 45 
Table  23: SWOT as perceived by mixed farming stakeholders  ................................ .................. 46 
Table  24: SWOT as perceived by stakeholders in the particle board platform  ............................. 48 
Table 25: SWOT as perceived by women who make soap  ................................ ........................ 49 
Table  26: Stakeholders, level of influence and interest  ................................ ........................... 50 
Table  27: Strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threa ts as perceived  
by stakeholders in the spinning sector  ................................ ................................ .................. 51 
Table  28: Ranking of ginning by -products and cotton stalks  ................................ .................... 51 
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  LIST OF CHARTS  
Figure  1: Map of the study and data collection area  ................................ ................................ 10 
Figure 2: Development of sown area and cotton production in Benin  ................................ ........ 15 
Figure 3: Development of seed cotton yield in Benin  ................................ .............................. 15 
Figure  4: By -products and uses of crop residue  ................................ ................................ .....26 
Figure  5: Diagram of seed cotton by -products  ................................ ................................ .......31 
Figure  6: Comparison of seed output and local supply of oil mills  ................................ ............. 34 
Figure  7: Change in supply of seed to cottonseed mills  ................................ ........................... 34 
Figure  8: Diagram of by -products from the milling subsector  ................................ ................... 37 
Figure  9: Estimated quantities of oilcake produced by the two cottonseed mills  ......................... 38 
Figure 10: Oilcake in me al for animal feed  ................................ ................................ ............ 38 
Figure  11: Quantity of husks produced over the past three years by the cottonseed mills  ........... 39 
Figure  12: Cottonseed husks  ................................ ................................ ............................... 39 
Figure  13: SHB animal feed production levels, 2016 -18 ................................ .......................... 40 
Figure  14: Animal feed  ................................ ................................ ................................ .......40 
Figure  15: Cotton lint weavers (A: Female weavers; B: A woman displays cotton lint fabric)  .......47 
Figure 16: Padding made from cotton waste  ................................ ................................ .......... 47 
Figure 17: Manufacturing soap from cotton stalk ash (A: ash from burned cotton stalks;  
B: Pulp obtained from the mixture of ash and fatty material; C: Soap ball s) .............................. 50 
Figure  18: Frequency of by -product choice in paired comparisons  ................................ ............ 52 
Figure  19: Frequency of selection of cotton by -products and cotton -derived products  ................. 52 
 
  WT/CFMC/W/85  
 
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  ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS  
AIC Cotton  Trade  Association  
CARDER  Regional Action Centre for Rural Development  
CORAF  West and Central African Council for Agricultural Research and Development  
CVPC  Village Cotton Producers ' Cooperatives  
FN CVPC  National Federation of Village Cotton Producers ' Cooperatives  
ITC International Trade Centre  
LCB Label Coton Bénin  
PAS Structural Adjustment Programme  
SODECO  Cotton Development Company  
SONACEB  National Marketing and Export Company of Benin  
SONACO  National Cotton Company   
TAZCO  Project supporting agro-ecological transition in cotton areas 
UCom  CVPC  Communal Unions  of CVPC  
UD CVPC.  Departmental Unions of CVPC  
UNCTAD  United Nations Conference on Trade and Development  
VATICOPP  
WAEMU  Project to harness the value of cotton stalks by manufacturing particle board 
West African Economic and Monetary Union  
WTO World Trade Organization  
 
  WT/CFMC/W/85  
 
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  1  INTRODUCTION  
1.1  Background and justification  
1.1.  Cotton -growing  is essential to the economy. Through its contribution to macro development 
indicators and the enormous advantages it generates in the micro -economy, it remains the main 
driver of economic growth. In macro terms , cotton contributes 13% of value -added to gr oss 
domestic product (GDP)  and 24% to agricultural GDP, and is a major source of foreign currency 
(40% of foreign currency inflows) for Benin. Cotton is the country 's leading export crop. It has a 
major role in reducing the trade balance deficit, as reflec ted in its contribution to exports (80%). It 
contributes 45% of tax revenue. In micro terms, cotton is grown by more than 325,000  agricultural 
households and provides them with substantial income. It is a significant source of employment , 
generat ing more t han 40% of jobs in rural areas, contributing directly to the income of more than 
60% of rural households , and provid ing direct and indirect reward s to more than one third of the 
population. Because cotton is a cash crop that is guaranteed to sell, it contributes to food security 
and poverty reduction , and the producers use the cash they receive  in exchange  to fund health 
costs, send their children to school, diversify the family diet, build l eisure and health centres, etc.  
1.2.  Cotton has a major role in the secondary sector because the bulk of the country 's industrial 
fabric (60%) comprises ginneries and other factories  that use  cotton by-products , such as 
cottonseed  mills and textile factories.  
1.3.  Cotton provides considerable rewards to various tertiary service -sector suppliers, including 
transporters, cargo handlers, weight controllers , freight forwarders, seasonal factory workers, 
insurers and bankers.  
1.4.  Nevertheless, all cotton 's economic  contribut ions can essentially be attribut ed to the fact that 
almost all (98%) lint and seed (after ginning) are exported.  Thus the focus in the cotton sector is 
almost entirely on cotton lint and the value obtained from lint exports, despite the scope for local 
processing, and the potential sources of wealth - and job - creation that could increase benefits from 
cotton. The sale of seed cotton is virtually the only revenue -stream that cotton producers have from 
their crop . Therefore it can only be assumed that produc ers either underestimate or are unaware of 
the considerable potential for increasing the sector 's value -added offered both by other parts of the 
cotton plant, and by the products of ginning and seed -milling. The potential contribution of 
cotton -seed oils, oilcake and cotton stalks to the West African economy is estimated at over 
USD 500 billion per year. Therefore creating facilities  to process cotton by-products is an opportunity 
to create thousands of full -time and casual jobs and to develop associated income -generating 
activities primarily for women, who are more involved in cotton -processing activities.  
1.5.  As a result of this  under -estimat e of the cotton industry 's potential across several African 
cotton -producing countries, the World Trade Organization (WTO) working closely with the United 
Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and the International Trade Centre (ITC), 
was mandated by its Members to undertake to support such countries in the cre ation of value -added 
through the production, processing and commercialization of cotton by-/co-products. This study falls 
within that framework and is part of the preparatory phase of the project to develop cotton 
by-products. It seeks to take stock of and  provide information on current value chains and 
stakeholders in order to identify the main areas where action can be taken to unlock the value of 
cotton by-/co-products.  
1.2  Study objectives  
1.6.  The overall objective of this study is to establish a baseline sett ing out the current state of play 
with regard to the potential of cotton -derived  products across all production chains. Specifically, this 
includes:  
• analysing the current situation regarding use, marketing and national priorities for cotton 
by-/co-product s; 
• identifying and assessing the capacities  of various stakeholder s to add value to 
by-/co-products;  
• provisionally identify cotton by-/co-product  areas that should be prioritized . WT/CFMC/W/85  
 
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  1.3  Methodology  
1.7.  The methodology used throughout this study can be divided into four (4) main stages namely: 
(1) analysis of secondary data, or a review of the literature; (ii) selection of the sites and units to 
survey; (iii) collection of primary data; and (iv) analysis of the data collected and write -up. 
1.3.1   Review of the literature  
1.8.  The aim of this stage was to research and capitalize on the literature available on the 
socio-economic and institutional aspects of the cotton industry, focusing in particular on cotton 
by-produc ts. The review made it possible  to sketch the outlines of the study, clarify objectives  and 
specify  methods of data collection and analysis , and provided guidance as to  which  sites and units 
to study.  Specifically, it involved examining documents, papers and articles on the cotton industry 
available from  libraries or online.  
1.3.2   Choice of sites and sampling  
1.9.  In order to take account of all cotton by -products and cotton -derived  products , the units 
selected for study covered all sectors of the cotton industry (primary production, ginning, milling 
and textiles). The survey sites were chosen based on geography and the location of ginn eries 
(Figure  1); the sample units are primarily producers (310), but also include millers (2), ginners (15) 
and one spinner (1).  Other stakeholders who use or handle cotton by-products were also surveyed 
and include d mixed farmers, transporters, weavers, soap producers an d stakeholders on the 
VATICOPP platform.  
1.10.   The distribution of the producers selected is shown in Table  1. The three hundred and ten 
(310) producers surve yed are from thirteen (13) communes in five (5) cotton -producing 
departments and the four (4) agro -ecological zones in Benin.  
1.11.   The distribution by commune and department of the ginneries  visited as part of this study is 
presented in  Table  2. The bulk of the plants are members of the Cotton Development Company 
(SODECO). Sixteen (16) of the country 's 20 plants were visited, i.e.  80%.  WT/CFMC/W/85  
 
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  Figure  1: Map of the study and data collection area  
 
Source: The authors, based on the data collected, 2019.  
 
WT/CFMC/W/85  
 
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  Table 1: Distribution of producers questioned , by department and commune  
Departments  Communes  Number  Percentage (%)  
Alibori  Kandi  90 29.03   
Banikoara  45 14.52   
Subtotal   135 43.55  
Atacora  Pehunco  13 4.19  
Kérou  23 7.42  
Matéri  30 9.68  
Cobly  26 8.39  
Tanguiéta  14 4.52 
  Subtotal  106 34.19  
Borgou  Ndali 25 8.06 
  Subtotal  25 8.06 
Collines  Dassa -zounmè  5 1.61  
Savalou  9 2.9 
  Subtotal  14 4.52 
Zou Bohicon  20 6.45  
Abomey  8 2.58  
Agbangnizoun  2 0.65 
  Subtotal  30 9.68 
Total    310 100 
Source: Study data 2019.  
 
Table 2: Distribution of factories by department and commune  
Departments  Communes  Number of facilities  Percent age (%) 
Alibori  Kandi  2 12.5  
Banikoara  1 6.25  
Subtotal  3 18.75  
Atacora  Kérou  1 6.25  
Pehunco  1 6.25  
Subtotal  2 12.5 
Borgou  N'dali  1 6.25  
Parakou  3 18.75   
Subtotal  4 25 
Collines  Savalou  2 12.5  
Dassa  1 6.25  
Glazoué  1 6.25  
Subtotal  4 25 
Zou Bohicon  1 6.25  
Avogbana  1 6.25  
Subtotal  2 12.5 
Couffo  Hagounè  1 6.25  
Subtotal  1 6.25 
  Total  16 100 
Source: Study data 2019.  
 
1.3.3   Collection of primary data 
1.12.   This involved formulating data collection tools (questionnaires and an interview guide) that 
drew on the information gleaned from the literature review. The next step was to validate the tools, 
and then to recruit and train eleven (11) researchers. Th e training clarifi ed terminology and 
concepts. The questions asked focused on  the production of seed cotton; processed by -products and 
the marketing thereof ; types of customers; the various stakeholders and the relationships between 
them; and the strengths , weaknesses, opportunities and threats ( SWOT ) of activities in relation to  
by-products. The data were collected from producers, ginners, millers, spinners, weavers, makers 
of soap and cotton -stalk potash, and mixed farmers. Apart from producers, ginners, millers, and 
mixed farmers , stakeholders were selected using the non -probability based "snowball " method. 
Therefore two methods were used in combination:  individual interviews supported by a questionnaire 
for producers and processors ; and focus groups, supported by an interview guide,  at factories  and 
with other stakeholders. Photographs and videos were taken during the interviews.  WT/CFMC/W/85  
 
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  1.3.4   Data processing and repo rt writing  
1.13.   After the various steps in the field, data entry forms designed in Excel were used to input 
data from the interviews prior to analysis. As a preliminary step, the database was reconciled and 
then used to calculate various statistics and indicato rs that populate the tables and figures in this 
report. STATA software was used. Content/ statement analysis was used in respect of the qualitative 
data from discussions.  
1.4  Difficulties encountered  
1.14.   There are very few similar studies that provide an in -depth examination of the use of cotton 
by-products in Africa and Beni n; hence there is scant documentation and a dearth of secondary data. 
Moreover, the statistical services either hold no data on this topic or such data that they do have is 
incomplete or obsole te and needs updating, hence  the importance of this study to try and describe 
the current situation regarding the existence and use of cotton by-products . 
1.15.   The companies visited are all privately owned and in competition with each other, and are 
therefore r eluctant  to provide information on sale s prices, markets, and the identity of customers. 
Ways were, however, found  to collect information useful to the study.  
2  OVERVIEW OF THE COTTON INDUSTRY IN BENIN  
2.1  History of institutions and development of the cotton s ector in Benin  
2.1.1   Pre-independence  
2.1.  Cotton growing first became part of  agricultural production systems in Benin before the 1930s 
following setbacks to the palm oil industry where competitiveness was gradually eroding for several 
reasons , includ ing ecological and climatic issues, poor management of processing companies, the 
introduction of replacement products, and the emergence of new , more competitive producers. The 
preference for cotton over oil palm was due to the fact that it had the advantage of being a seasonal 
crop and was easier to manage. Cotton was used locally for lighting , making items for domestic use, 
and in fabrics made by weavers. Gossypium  barbadense  and food crops were cultivated as a mixed 
crop. Although marginal in the early stages,  cotton production developed (three ginning mils were 
set up by foreign commercial companies) to the point where cotton was exported for the first time 
in 1929, in the form of approximately 1,132  tonnes of cotton lint. After that point,  the territory was 
divided into various cotton zones. Cotton production gradually increased to 5,000  tonnes at the 
beginning of the 1940s following the establishment  of a public marketing  service. Until 1950, 
production varied between 1,000 and 3,000  tonnes per year.  
2.2.  In 1952 the French Textile Fibres Development Company  (CFTD) was set up  to promote 
cotton -growing in Benin. The "Allen" variety Gossypium  hirsutum that it introduced was so successful 
that its use became widespread in the centre and north of Benin, in the Zou and Borgou regions. In 
1954 the Regional Stabilization Fund (CTS) was set up in all French West African colonies. Controlled 
by the French colonial government, its mission was to stabilize production prices. Later development 
was influenced by political change s and climate conditions.  
2.1.2   Post-independence  
2.3.  Independence triggered a restructuring of the cotton sector, in particular the emergence of the 
Technical Assistance and Cooperation Company  (SATEC) which worked with the CFDT and focused 
exclusively on cotton. T he two organizations had a shared advisory service, set up in 1962, whose 
mission was to provide outreach services on intensive farming methods such as proper  adherence 
to the work schedule, use of fertilizers and phytosanitary treatments.  The CFDT worked  in the north 
and the SATEC in the south. The CFDT was the driving force because in addition to advisory services 
it had a research station and a monopoly on procurement. Raw cotton was ginned in the CFDT 's own 
facilities. The ginned cotton and its by -products were then dispatched to France. There were some 
considerable successes , and in 12 years  both the area sown to cotton, and  cotton production 
doubled, leading  to a rise in the number of ginneries . WT/CFMC/W/85  
 
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  2.4.  In 1962 the Exports Support and Price Stabilization Fund was established and managed by a 
division of the government -owned Dahomey Agricultural Credit and Marketing Company  (SOCAD). 
The fund was later converted into an autonomous body and became the Autonomous Stabilization 
Fund (FAS) for agricultural products and prices . Despite the country 's political instability ( six coups 
in 12 years) cotton production grew.  
2.1.3   Revolutionary period  
2.5.  The emergence of the military government in 1972 led to nationalization of the country 's main 
business sectors  and the resumption of work involving advisory services, the purchase of raw cotton 
and ginning, while export -related activities remained with the CFDT. In 1974, SOCAD (established 
in 1972) took over marketing , and the CFDT and SATEC were abolished. In 1975 S ONACO was 
replaced by the National Marketing and Export Company of Benin (SONACEB). Also in that year , 
regional  action centres for rural development  (CARDER) were established in each of the six regions. 
Their role was  to provide outreach services, give advice, supply inputs and purchase seed cotton. 
SONAGRI ginned the cotton and exported the cotton lint. The task of the FAS was to stabilize 
production and subsidize inputs.  
2.6.  The economic rise of Nigeria and failures in economic policy  led to a period of decli ne and a 
focus on  cotton production. Encouragement by way  of rural development projects, with incentive 
payments for outreach workers, resulted in a gradual rise in production. Agricultural inputs were 
provided as credits in kind (fertilizer, pesticides, t reatment technology, hitching assembly and 
animal -drawn equipment). Both the area under cultivation  and output  began to rise again from 
1982. The National Agricultural Promotion Company  (SONAPRA) was established that same year and 
took over all cotton -related activities except those performed by CARDER . It also replaced SONAGRI, 
SONACEB and the  FAS. The import of inputs, their distribution, financing or subsidy, and a major 
share of the marketing of cotton prior to export were thus in the hands o f just one institution: 
SONAPRA. All these policies led to production rising to such an extent that during the 1986 -87 cotton 
season, the cotton sector underwent one of its first crises : output  far outstripped nominal ginning 
capacity. The limitations of the measures taken to counter the crisis (construction of temporary 
hangars, exceptional ginning rates) were laid bare by the significant quantities of seed cotton that 
became water damaged and were left to moulder.  
2.1.4   Privatization and market liberalization  
2.7.  Major reforms to the sector began in 1987 after the first cotton crisis. During that year , 
production, which had been highly incentivized, exceeded ginning capacity. The situation was 
exacerbated by the unexpected fall in international market prices. At that point the authorities took 
measures to restructure state cotton services : in 1988 the aspects of the industry that had been 
covered by CARDER were entrusted to SONAPRA, in addition to its responsibilities with regard to 
supplying agricultural inputs. Pu rsuant to the Structural Adjustment Programme (PAS), as required 
by the Agricultural Service Restructuring Project (PRSA) and in line with the Letter on Rural 
Development Policy (LDPDR), CARDER switched away from marketing activities and back to its core 
functions (outreach, support and training for OP). 
2.8.  The year 1993 saw the beginnings of the State's withdrawal from the management of the 
cotton industry. A pilot operation  was launched that entailed  handing 20% of all input needs over to 
a private company. The operation continued  until 1995 when 80% of input needs were supplied by 
private companies. It was not until 2000 that SONAPRA withdrew entirely from the input distribution 
sector and the sector was fully given over to private ownership. Liberalization  of ginning  began in 
1995 with state authorization for private companies to establish their own ginn eries. Within three 
years there were eight ginneries  with a nominal capacity of 225,000  tonnes, bringing national 
capacity to 575,000  tonnes.  
2.9.  Between 1995 and 1999 , producer purchase prices were still controlled by government. 
Additionally, SONAPRA, a "ginner ", continued to set seed cotton quotas for private ginneries , raising 
questions about the liberalization of the industry.  WT/CFMC/W/85  
 
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  2.1.5   From 2000 to 2010  
2.10.   From 20 00 onwards , the reforms implemented following  a seminar on the liberalization of the 
cotton industry  allowed for the development of an integrated , nation wide private sector  and a 
regionally integrated private sector. As a result, SONAPRA 's responsibilities  in relation to organizing 
consultations to select private companies, and for organizing commercial seed cotton activities, were 
removed and given to the Agricultural Input Supply and Management Pool (CAGIA  – a producers ' 
union cooperative) and the Agency for Guaranteeing Payment and Collection (CSPR) respectively, 
the organizations established for those particular respective purposes. These various reforms 
represent progress in the process of the State 's withdrawal from the industry. Privatization of the 
industry, which should be the culmination of this process, is still proving challenging to implement.  
2.1.6   Current situation at institutional level  
2.11.   Between 2012 and 2016 the authorities ' involvement  was all too apparent and hampered the 
proper functioning of the industry, leading to a sharp decline in performance. A new government 
team that took the helm in 2016 implemented reforms and  restored  the operating principles that 
had been introduced under liberalizati on. Management of the industry was handed back to the AIC 
and all its private sector components. Some structures including SONAPRA were abolished. We note 
also the withdrawal of state subsidies. The effect of the reforms has been a clear improvement in 
both the area under cotton cultivation  and production in the ensuing seasons.   
2.2  Development of production  
2.2.1   Production, sown area  and seed  cotton yield  
2.12.   Since the 1960s , the sown area and production in respect of seed cotton have generally 
increased  (Figure  2). The two curves show a similar trend and criss -cross such that at some points  
the sown area is greater than production (yield <1 t/ha) and at others production is greater than 
the sown area (yield >1 t/ha). The s own area and production were low and fairly constant from the 
beginning of the 1960s until the beginning of the 1980s , then rose  until the mid-1990s , during a 
period of sector liberalizat ion and privatization , featur ing more rapid growth in production. This was 
followed by a period of stability and then a collapse between 2006 and 2012 as a result of political 
interference in the industry.  The most rapid, steady growth was achieved from 2 017 onwards,  and 
production peaked at 725 ,000 tonnes. This growth is the result of the latest reforms in the sector, 
the most important of which are the re -establishment of management by the cotton industry 
association, suspension of the requisitioning of a large number of ginneries  and the settlement by 
the State of its debts to the sector. The se measures restore d stakeholder confidence  and ensured 
greater transparency in sector management .  WT/CFMC/W/85  
 
- 15 - 
 
  Figure 2: Development of sown area and cotton production in Benin  
 
Source:  Data from FAOSTAT and the AIC (2019).  
2.13.   Yield has fluctuated considerably since the 1960s ( Figure  3). Analysis of the trend as 
represented by a polynomial curve identifies two periods: a period of growth between 1960 and 
1993, and a period of contraction  since then to date, where yield fluctuates at around one tonne per 
hectare, way below the potential of the cotton v arieties currently in use. Work therefore remains to 
be done to improve cotton field productivity and  the availability of cotton by-products.  
Figure 3: Development of seed  cotton yield in Benin  
 
Source:  Data from FAOSTAT and the A IC (2019).  
0100200300400500600700800
Area ('000 ha) Production ('000 t)
y = 0.0115x3-1.8078x2+ 83.222x -9.5865
R² = 0.7269
0200400600800100012001400160018002000
Yield (kg/ha)WT/CFMC/W/85  
 
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  2.2.2   Production, sown area and cotton  lint yield  
2.14.   Changes in the annual balance sheets and accounts for cotton lint (the industry 's main 
product) are presented in Table  3. The cotton lint yield (or ginning rate) has varied year on year and 
has fluctuated widely , as has  the yield for seed cotton. Lint production varies year on year and has 
yielded the highest to nnages during the last four (4) seasons. Opening stocks also vary year on 
year. Table  3 also shows that Benin does not import cotton lint. Therefore loc al consumption of 
cotton lint is very low, ranging from 1  t to 4  t. Its ratio to production (0.3% for the 2019/20 season) 
aptly illustrates how poorly appreciated lint is locally. This is somewhat puzzling since the Beninese 
population is a large consumer of textiles and other cotton -derived products. Strategies and 
measures are crucial to enable the country to consume at least 2% of its lint output: this would be 
a source of income and jobs and would increase cotton 's contribution to the country 's value ad ded.   
  WT/CFMC/W/85  
 
- 17 - Table  3: Changes in the production and export of cotton lint  
Years  Sown area 
(X000 ha) Yield  
(kg lint/ha)  Production  
(X000 tonnes)  Opening 
stocks  
(X000 tonnes)  Import  
(X000 
tonnes)  Consumption  
(X000 tonnes)  Exports  
(X000 
tonnes)  Closing 
stocks  
(X000 
tonnes)  S/U*  
2009/10  149 459 68 45 0 4 85 24 0.27 
2010/11  136 442 60 24 0 4 64 16 0.23 
2011/12  203 368 75 16 0 4 60 27 0.42 
2012/13  312 337 105 27 0 4 93 35 0.36 
2013/14  380 326 124 35 0 4 140 15 0.10 
2014/15  379 443 168 15 0 4 112 67 0.57 
2015/16  307 338 104 67 0 4 108 58 0.52 
2016/17 est.  418 416 174 58 0 3 143 87 0.60 
2017/18 est.  530 485 257 87 0 2 196 146 0.74 
2018/19 for.  656 449 295 146 0 1 292 147 0.50 
2019/20 for.  700 450 315 147 0 1 294 168 0.57 
Source:  ICAC 2019.  *Closing stocks divided by consumption + exports.  
 WT/CFMC/W/85  
 
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  2.3  Institutions and current operations in the sector  
2.15.   The cotton industry is managed by the Cotton Trade Association (AIC). According to Title  3, 
Article  3 of the Framework Agreement between the State and the AIC, the cotton industry may have 
only one trade organization.  
2.16.   The State recognizes the AIC as  the sole trade organization in the industry ; the AIC brings 
together  organizations that represent families in the industry , especially producers and ginners. Its 
role is to act as :  
❖ An institutional framework:  
• consultation between families in the industry ; 
• negotiation and monitoring the implementation of trade agreements that seek to govern 
relationships between families in the industry;  
• activities entrusted to the organization that are of mutual interest to families in the industry;  
• public service activi ties that the State decides to entrust to the organization;  
• technical, legal and financial instruments that families in the industry create in order to 
improve the general functioning of the industry.  
❖ The body representing the industry vis-à-vis the State,  its subdivisions and 
development partners  
2.17.   The AIC 's missions are as follows:  
• to facilitate consultation between families in the cotton industry in order to encourage joint 
trade management;  
• to draw up joint trade agreements to govern relations between its members in the industry 's 
various families ; 
• to facilitate the conclusion of agreements between subsectors and monitor them;  
• to organize and facilitate negotiations on seed  cotton prices;  
• to distribute seed cotton to ginners;  
• to draw up the seed  cotton transportation plan;  
• to collect, process and circulate economic and agronomic information relevant to the industry;  
• to draw up the cotton season plan;  
• to manage all technical and financial sup port tools intended to ensure the smooth functioning 
of the cotton industry;  
• to facilitate consultations with the State in order to establish conditions for the development 
of the industry;  
• to defend the industry 's interests;  
• to define, manage and monito r all activities or functions concerning the survival and smooth 
running of the industry . 
2.18.   Various stakeholders are involved in cotton production and have a range of responsibilities.  
2.19.   In Benin, the cotton industry is organized around the trade association. The association 
defends the collective interest of its members vis-à-vis national or sub -regional authorities and 
facilitates dialogue with industry stakeholders. The stakeholders are as follows:  
➢ active members: cotton growers and their umbrella organizati on who are responsible for 
seed cotton production; ginning companies responsible for distributing inputs, purchasing , 
and ginning cotton;  
➢ associate m embers associated with the industry: spinners and transporters;  
➢ observers and facilitators: the State, tec hnical and financial partners.  WT/CFMC/W/85  
 
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• Producers and their umbrella organization  
2.20.   They are the industry 's primary stakeholders. They consist of rural populations (me n and 
women) who have formed cooperatives and/or village groupings. During the 2018/19 season, th e 
number of registered cotton growers was 215,000  individuals each with an average sown area of 
between 0.65  ha and 3.03  ha. (AIC, 2019).  
• Producer organizations  
2.21.   From the grass -roots level up, producers who are natural persons have set themselves up as 
Village Cotton Producers " Cooperatives (CVPC) within Communal Unions (UCom  CVPC) which are 
part of the Departmental Unions of Village Cotton Producers ' Cooperatives (UD  CVPC). The UD were 
established under the National Federation of Villag e Cotton Producers ' Cooperatives (FN  CVPC).  
2.22.   The FN  CVPC is the framework  body for consultations with producers. It deals with primary 
marketing of seed cotton, signs agreements with ginners and input distributors, and draws up 
statements for the purchase a nd transportation of seed cotton.  
• Cotton companies and how they are organiz ed 
2.23.   There are four cotton companies in the factory landscape: the Cotton Development Company 
(SODECO ); Label Coton Bénin (LCB) from the Aiglon Group; the Bénin Coton  (BC) group, formerly 
Marlan 's Cotton Industries ; and the Sino -Beninese Cotton Processing Company (SBTC). There are 
20 factories in Benin in total. The cotton companie s' aims are  as follows:  
- to make proposals on the distribution of seed cotton;  
- to make a 40% pa yment on account;  
- to gin seed cotton;  
- to place cotton lint for export  
- to supply local industry with cottonseed  and cotton lint.  
• The millers  
2.24.   There are currently  two cottonseed milling factories in operation.  They belong to the country 's 
first milling c ompany, FLUDOR (established 1996), capacity 90,000  metric tonnes of cottonseed ; 
and to the Benin Oil Refining Company  (SHB)  with a processing capacity of 110,000  metric tonnes 
of seed per year.  
2.25.   The total milling capacity of Benin is therefore 200,000  metric tonnes.  The  milling  companies 
are capable of producing 40,000  tonnes of cotton oil and 95,000  tonnes of oilcake (WAEMU, 2013). 
Their supply of cottonseed  is determined under  a distribution scheme drawn up by the ginners.  
• The State and its  subdivisions  
2.26.   Through various Ministries (Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries; Infrastructure and Transport; 
Industry and Commerce; Justice, etc.) and Technical Directorates, the State lays down the legal and 
regulatory framework governing the industry; s igns agreements with the AIC; approves the prices 
of seed cotton and inputs following consultations with stakeholders; and oversees the system to 
ensure it functions properly.  
2.27.   Acting through its subdivisions (INRAB, DPV, ATDA, DDAEP, DLOPEA), the Ministry of 
Agriculture participates in production; training farmers ' associations in the OHADA rules in force; in 
the creation  and selection of varieties; and in seed certification . 
2.28.   Under the current state reforms, the Territorial Agricultural Development Agency ( ATDA)  2 
has become the Cotton Development Hub. On that basis , a Cotton Programme Director has been 
appointed to deal with cotton development policy.  
• Banks and microfinance institutions  
2.29.   Financial institutions provide support by way of loans to the ginning  companies and cottonseed  
mills. The loans enable the cotton companies to make advance payments to producers and perform 
other related tasks.  WT/CFMC/W/85  
 
- 20 - 
 
  • Cooperation agencies  
2.30.   Several cooperation agencies support the cotton trade association , namely the French 
Develo pment Agency (AFD) via a project supporting agro -ecological transition in cotton areas  
(TAZCO); the Brazilian Cooperation Agency (ABC) for lint grading and quality control; and the 
Chinese Cotton -Growing Support Programme, in particular in respect of the mechanization pillar. 
2.4  Policy environment analysis: legal and regulatory frameworks  
2.31.   With support from the international community, Benin instigated  an ambitious programme of 
political and economic reforms  in 1989 . The profound structural reforms undertaken by the 
authorities have helped the country to achieve notable macroeconomic stability and a good level of 
integration in the regional and world ec onomy. Against that background, Benin has sought to 
integrate its economy further into the world market. In order to ensure that the private sector is 
able to fully play the role now assigned to it, the State has been very involved in establishing 
framewor k conditions conducive to the development of a dynamic and competitive private sector 
including in manufacturing.  
2.32.   Benin is an investment -friendly country. The terms it offers any entrepreneur attracted by 
Africa are unrivalled. The legal and institutional environment has markedly improved over recent 
years and the democratic process continues to safeguard the rule of law, freedom s and security for 
investments.  
2.4.1   Legal environment  
2.33.   The Constitution of 11  December  1990 established the right to property, the prin ciple of equal 
treatment for all before the law, the right to freedom of establishment regardless of nationality , and 
the principle of national treatment in investment  matters . The Investment Code guarantees the right 
of every natural or legal person, whether of Beninese or other nationality , to the freedom to engage 
in any activity authorized by the State. An investor also has freedom of management and freedom 
to transfer capital. Additionally, in order to strengthen the legal framework for investment and 
provide greater security for capital, in 1993 and 1994 Benin ratified the Convention Establishing the 
Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA) and the Treaty on the Harmonization of Business 
Law in Africa (OHADA).  
2.34.   Where direct incentives are concern ed, the Investment Code provides for tax and customs 
relief measures for promoters. It prioritizes and gives fiscal benefits to businesses that contribute to 
the development of local resources, job creation and value added. It provides for an ordinary law 
regime, five preferential regimes and a "special " regime, all linked to the volume of projected 
investment.  
2.35.   An innovative aspect of the Code is the almost full waiver of customs duties during the 
investment phase under all the preferential regimes, the provision of a more professional basis for 
processing approval applications and a time limit of 20  working days for technical decisions foll owing 
registration with the National Investment Promotion Agency.  
2.4.2   Institutional environment  
2.36.   In terms of institutions, Benin has established a framework that greatly facilitates private 
investment. In order to support the private sector in it s key role as the driver of development, the 
Beninese State , acting  in cooperation with private sector stakeholders, has set up services to 
facilitate investment such as the Enterprise Formalities Centre (CFE) and the Investment Promotion 
Centre  (CPI). This provides sup port to investors seeking to develop their activities on Beninese 
territory. It supplies the paperwork and information required in order to invest in targeted sectors 
and tap into their niche markets. The CPI also plays a r ole supporting investors in carry ing out the 
initial formalities: procedures concerning establishment, the relationship with the authorities and the 
identification of partners.  
2.37.   In a similar vein , in June  2006, Benin issued a Presidential Decree establishing the Presidential 
Investment Cou ncil (CPI) under the direct control of the President of the Republic . Its key mission 
is to promote direct dialogue between the State and the private sector in order to identify barriers 
to investment that require government action. The CPI is a consultati ve body with wide -ranging WT/CFMC/W/85  
 
- 21 - 
 
  powers that organizes discussions and formulates proposals and recommendations on matters 
related to the development of investment in Benin. Its responsibilities include implementing action 
plans to improve Benin 's indicators in t he "Doing Business " report.  
2.38.   Aware of the negative impact of corruption on private investment and growth, Benin also 
launched an implacable assault on corruption when it established the General State Inspectorate  
(IGE) with responsibility  on a permanent basis for monitoring and inspec ting public authorities and 
public bodies. The National Anti -Corruption Authority  (ANCL) was also established in 2013 following 
the adoption of Law No.  2011-20 of 12  October  2011 on combating corruption and other related 
offences  in the Republic of Benin.  
2.5  Importance and usefulness of cotton by -products  
2.5.1   Seed  
2.39.   Cottonseed is currently the cheapest oleo -protein -containing raw material in the world 
(around USD  150 per tonne). It is normally used to produce oil and oilcake for animal feed and as 
such is underexplo ited. Cottonseed  for animals can be whole, ginned (the linters are a fine down 
formed of very short fibres covering the husks ) or dehusked in varying degrees. Whole cottonseed 
contains around 22% protein, 20% oils and fats, and 28% crude fibre (dry matter values).  
2.40.   Dehusking the seeds yields kernels and husks with linters. Crushing the seed produces three 
major product types: refined cotton oil (human consumption) oilcake (animal feed for ruminants) 
and products used in soap -making . 
2.5.2   Cotton kernels  
2.41.   The kernel  is very rich in oil and protein but contains a toxic pigment, gossypol, which is 
removed using small-scale or industrial processes. Grinding the kernels yields an excellent edible oil 
that can also be used to manufacture soaps. Cottonseed oil is the sixth  most popular vegetable oil 
in the world by consumptio n.. It is high quality, rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids (including 
Vitamin  E), and cholesterol -free, however i t reacts less well under heat than other popular oils . In 
some countries where cotton is grown (Mali, Chad, Burkina Faso, Togo), it accounts for the bulk of 
edible oil consumption.  
2.5.3   Oilcake  
2.42.   Oilcake is a source of protein :  oilcake from unhusked cottonseed (UCC) contain s between 
22.2% (Sharma et al., 1978a) and 30.3% (Balogun et al., 1990)  protein by dry matter,  while oilcake 
from husked cottonseed contains between 29.7% (Shekar -Reddy et al., 1998) and 56.0% (Ryan et 
al., 1986) . Cottonseed oilcake competes with other oilc akes and is generally used in animal feed.  
2.43.   The cottonseed pulp remaining after oil extraction is processed into oilcake, which is used for 
ruminant feed ( for bovine animals  and sheep   - the only animals able to detoxify gossypol during 
digestion). It is high in protein (up to 49% by dry matter)  i.e. three to six times higher than cereals 
and up to 20 times higher than some types of feed. It also has the highest phosphorus content of 
any plant food. Cotton oilcake also has other agricultural uses, including as fertilizer or culture 
substrate for mushrooms. Oilcake is traded internationally and most producer countries export it.  
2.44.   Development of cottonseed oilcake in animal production is restricted by anti -nutritive factors 
such as gossypol , which o nly ruminants  are capable of detoxifying. Its use as  poultry feed is 
constrained primarily by free gossypol which can cause lesions in various internal tissues  and reduce 
the growth performance and food efficiency of the ration (Diaw et al., 2010). Procedures to bind f ree 
gossypol are used to increase the rate of incorporation of oilcake into animal feeding stuffs but they 
have drawbacks of their own.  
2.45.   The waste and by -products from crushing kernels are used in the manufacture of soaps.  WT/CFMC/W/85  
 
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  2.5.4   Fine down or linters  
2.46.   The fine down  or linters (which have a very high cellulose content) are short cellulose fibres 
used in the manufacture of felt (carpets, rugs etc.), bed fittings, furniture and motor vehicles, 
compresses, gauzes, absorbent cotton, wicks, or yarn for carpets. Food produ cts are also extracted 
(among them dietary fibre, thickeners, excipients). Because of their many uses, linters have an  
international market.  
2.5.5   Husks 
2.47.   The husk is the highly cellulosic material of the seed and can be burned to produce the energy 
that oil mills  require. Since it is relatively palatable i t is also used as animal feed or to manufacture 
synthetic derivatives for the chemicals industry , such as fertilizer, and in oil production.  
2.5.6   Gossypol  
2.48.   Although toxic, there are a number of positive aspects to gossypol that could be developed.  
• Contraceptive activity  
2.49.   Gossypol has long been used in China as a natural remedy for bronchitis and as an 
abortifacient (Vander Jagt DL et al., 2000). Indeed, a significant fall in the birth -rate was first noticed  
in cott on-producing regions  by the Chinese . This observation was associated with the dietary habits 
of the indigenous peoples who used cottonseed oils in their cooking.  
• Antiviral activity  
✓ Antiherp etic activity  
2.50.   The antiviral properties of gossypol have chiefly been observed on the herpes virus. In HIV, 
Lin and colleagues observed that ( -)-gossypol selectively inhibits HIV -1 replication whereas the 
anti-HIV activity of (+) -gossypol was in line with its cytotoxicity on PBM.  
✓ Antifungal activity   
2.51.   Aspergillus  flavus , responsible for the biosynthesis of aflatoxins that form on kernels and 
seeds. Formation of these toxins is blocked by gossypol  (Mellon JE, 1992) . 
✓ Pest-management activity   
2.52.   Gossypol exhibits activity that protects against a number of pests that ca n sometimes cause 
severe, widespread disease: Entamoeba histolytica , which invades the intestines and the liver; 
Trypanosoma  brucei  brucei , which infects bovine animals in Africa; Taenia  taeniaformis , which 
affects humans and animals  - gossypol blocked larval development following ingestion of eggs by 
rats (Rikihisa Y & Lin YC, 1986) ; and Plasmodium  falciparum,  one of the four species of malarial 
parasites.  
✓ Antitumor activity of gossypol  
2.53.   Studies into prostate and breast cancers showed that it ar rested cell growth at G0/G1 phase 
and blocked it at S  phase (Ligueros M et al., 1997; Shidaifat F et al., 1996).  
2.5.7   Use of cotton stalks  
2.54.   In order to reduce phytosanitary risk or restrict infestations of caterpillars  in diapause , 
cotton -growers regularly used  to burn cotton stalks or used fields of them as holding pens for grazing 
animals. Although degradation is very slow, producers have been aware of it for several years and  
have been  encouraged to recycle organic matter by incorporating it into the soil.  WT/CFMC/W/85  
 
- 23 - 
 
  2.55.   Several papers  on cotton stalks have shown that in terms of chemical composition they are 
comparable to most hardwood species and also contain holocellulose (69%), lignin (27%) and ash 
(7%). They can therefore be used as an alternate raw material in the man ufacture of a number of 
value -added products.  
2.56.   Against a backdrop of climate change with damaging consequences for soil fertility and the 
resulting decline in yields, the development of cotton stalks can offer small farmers a new 
opportunity that will signi ficantly improve the income they earn from farming cotton.  
2.57.   Therefore promoting the development of cotton stalks creates a golden economic opportunity 
to relaunch a sector that has been defined by issues such as loss of soil fertility, fluctuations in world  
cotton prices, and a drop in subsidies from major powers.  
❖ Production of manure and cotton -stalk potash  
2.58.   Crop residue is often burned or grazed ; it is rarely returned to the soil (Soumaré et al.,  2000; 
Lompo, 2005). Composted residue account s for only a sma ll proportion  of crop residue  and in any 
event do es not meet crop nutrition requirements. The low level at which organic matter is replaced 
means that often prohibitively expensive mineral fertilizers are less efficient (Vall et al., 2006).  
Moreover, in t he very tough economic environment associated with the fall in world cotton prices 
and the consequent fall in prices paid to seed cotton producers, improving crop quantities poses a 
major challenge to the country 's cotton companies. In West Africa, the pro duction of manure from 
cotton stalks is more highly developed in Burkina Faso and Mali. A paper by Dakuo et  al., (2011) 
showed that cotton -stalk compost s were high in nitrogen and potassium, but relatively low in 
phosphorus. Kpadé et al., (2018) showed tha t 52%, 49% and 23% of survey participants in Benin , 
Mali and Togo respectively gain value from using cotton stalks  as organic fertilizers.  
❖ Manufacture of cotton -stalk briquettes and fuel wood  
2.59.   The manufacture of cotton -stalk briquettes is increasingly encou raged in most cotton producer 
countries and has been growing inexorably in Mali, Burkina Faso and Benin,  where an initiative to 
that end was trialled by the National Agricultural Research Institute  of Benin (INRAB) through the 
VATICOPP project.  
2.60.   The importance of this activity lies in the fact that manufacturing briquettes will to some 
extent curtail defores tation ( primarily deforestation to produce charcoal and fuel wood), reduce bush 
fires and generate new rural businesses, and thus new sources of income. Several techniques are 
used to produce the briquettes. However two dominate the market. The first requi res the stalks to 
be burned prior to manufacture , whereas in the second the manufacturing process commences 
directly after crushing/grinding.  
❖ Mushroom cultivation  
2.61.   Cotton is a fibrous plant with a good concentration of lignin (27%). This makes it a 
good-quality food resource (substrate) for mushrooms which make up a significant part of human 
nutrition. In fact, the production of edible mushrooms in Benin and the sub -region is booming. In 
Benin, mushrooms are considered a second -tier supplementary food that i s often harvested at the 
beginning of the rainy season, which is also the lean season. Cotton stalks are a good substrate for 
mushrooms.  
❖ Paper pulp  
2.62.   With their high cellulose -fibre content, cotton stalks are a choice raw material for the 
paper -making indust ry. Paper pulp is made by separating cellulose fibres from wood, other woody 
plants or other fibre sources while retaining to the fullest extent possible their mechanical , optical 
and morphological properties and attempting to remove the other main compon ent of wood, namely 
lignin.  
2.63.   Cotton stalks are good ingredients for making paper pulp. This is a plus point that opens new 
horizons for the Beninese paper -making industry and has the support of ecologists where 
deforestation is concerned. This is value adde d that simply must be unlocked . WT/CFMC/W/85  
 
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  ❖ Particle board  
2.64.   Increasingly sought after by the furniture industry, particle board is the new face of 
furnishings in the 21st century. Particle board manufactured from cotton stalks is used to make 
furniture, wooden walls, window -pane inserts, table tops, floor and ceiling tiles, partitioning , and  
wooden roofs , and is also used as an insulating material. The manufacture of particle board has 
progressed under the VATICOPP project in Benin.  
2.65.   The WAEMU -funded project to harness  the value of cotton stalks ( Gossypium  spp.) by 
manufactur ing particle board (VATICOPP) made it possible to conduct a benchmark study in order 
to: (i) estimate total production of cotton stalks in Benin; (ii) analyse the various ways in which 
Benin 's cotton farmers can unlock the value of cotton stalks ; (iii) analyse the cotton -stalk particle 
board market by studying the current supply of particle board and the demand for cotton -stalk 
particle board in Benin.  
2.66.   Work by Kpadé et al., (2019), state s that the annual potential output of cotton stalks in the 
three countries (Benin, Mali and Togo) is in excess of 1.33 million  tonnes. Around half of cotton 
farmers (51%) already engage in practices to unlock the value of cotton stalks. Cotton stalks could  
be used as a raw material in the local manufacture of particle board as an alternative to  imports; 
they represent a potential market , as well as a genuine opportunity to increase cotton producers ' 
incomes. Cotton producers need to be trained in how to pre serve cotton stalks in order to produce 
high-quality, competitive particle board . 
3  OUTCOMES  
3.1  By-products and value chain in the seed cotton primary production subsector  
3.1.1   Subsector stakeholders  
3.1.1.1   Producers  
3.1.1.1.1   Socio -economic characteristics of the producers questio ned 
3.1.  The majority of the producers questioned were men (97.4%) ( Table 4), since there are more 
men than women in cotton production. Overall the level of f ormal education is low but varies from 
one department to another. The lowest level was among producers in Borgou. The average age of 
producers was 42 and their average family size was 10  people, half of whom were farm workers or 
capable of working in the f ields.  
Table 4: Socio -economic characteristics of the producers questioned  
 
Alibori  Atacora  Borgou  Collines  Zou Total  or average  
Men 129 106 25 14 28 302  
(95.56)  (100)  (100)  (100)  (93.33)  (97.42)  
Women  6 0 0 0 2 8  
(4.44)  (0) (0) (0) (6.67)  (2.58)  
Level of education (years)  0.72 3.51 0.08 0.79 0.80 1.66  
(0.78)  (3.84)  (0.40)  (0.80)  (1.86)  (2.78)  
Producer 's age (years)  44.43  39.10  47.04  36.14  44.33  42.44   
(10.45)  (8.78)  (11.32)  (5.83)  (13.93)  (10.61)  
Size of household (number of people)  9.67 10.94  7.96 6.57 9.41 9.80  
(6.00)  (5.96)  (4.06)  (2.79)  (5.42)  (5.77)  
Number of farm workers  
(number of people)  4.86 5.98 5.88 3.86 4.68 5.27 
  (3.69)  (3.88)  (3.98)  (1.66)  (2.84)  (3.69)  
(): percentage or standard deviation . 
Source:  Survey data 2019.  
 
3.2.  The producers' average number of years  of experience in agriculture was 24 but varied across 
the departments ( Table 5). Producers in Zou had the highest number of years' experience  in growing WT/CFMC/W/85  
 
- 25 - 
 
  cotton. On average, the producers have 14  hectares of land of which 10.8  ha is given over to crop 
farming. The produce rs questioned had annual incomes of around CFAF 1,125,000 of which 78% 
(CFAF 975,000) was from agriculture, confirming that this was indeed the main activity of those 
questioned.  
Table 5: Socio -economic characteristics of the produc ers questioned (cont 'd) 
Department  Alibori  Atacora  Borgou  Collines  Zou Total  or average  
Experience in agriculture (years)  25.13  20.75  27.64  18.36  27.00  23.71   
(13.76)  (8.64)  (12.08)  (7.24)  (16.87)  (12.46)  
Experience in cotton growing (years)  18.44  14.93  21.20  11.21  21.27  17.41   
(11.39)  (7.68)  (10.74)  (7.07)  (14.7)  (10.70)  
Available land area ( ha) 16.56  14.54  12.16  11.29  6.67 14.34   
(18.79)  (11.36)  (13.08)  (15.44)  (4.37)  (15.21)  
Crop farming area ( ha) 13.16  10.85  7.32 4.07 5.98 10.81  
  (12.12)  (8.61)  (4.11)  (3.15)  (4.31)  (10.01)  
Annual agricultural income ( CFAF thousand)       
1st quartile  600 507.5  350 120 300 500 
Median  1,400 1,012.5  420 257.5  700 975 
2nd quartile  3,000 2,500 550 350 1,500 2,000 
Total annual income ( CFAF thousand)       
1st quartile  675 700 350 150 400 500 
Median  1,575 1,532.5  420 282.5  800 1,125 
2nd quartile  3,500 2,670 550 500 1,800 2,500 
(): Standard deviation.  
Source:  Survey data 2019.  
 
3.1.1.2   Other stakeholders and stakeholder associations  
3.3.  The MAEP interlocutor for the survey was the Director of the Cotton Programme. It should be 
noted that since the private sector took back control of the sector, the State has not had a specific 
policy for the cotton industry. However, as part of its reforms , the State has established development 
hubs. Hub  2, under Regional Agricultural Development Agency  2, has responsibility for cotton. It is 
the project manager for the project supporting agro -ecological transition (TAZCO)  
3.4.  Working through the CRACF, with the support of WAEMU, INRAB carried out the VATICOPP 
project that established a platform that was studied as part of this paper . 
3.1.2   Subsector by-products  
3.5.  The responses given by producers on seed cotton production and potential by-/co-products 
have been summarized in a diagram ( Figure  4) showing that the parts of the cotton plant from which 
producers harness value are the seed cotton and the crop residues (stalks and leaves).  WT/CFMC/W/85  
 
- 26 - 
 
  Figure  4: By-products and uses of crop residue  
 
Source: Survey data 2019.  
3.1.2.1   Seed cotton  
3.6.  Seed cotton is the most important product obtained from the cotton plant and is the subject of 
primary marketing. All seed cotton is sold directly to ginning companies. The average area sown to 
cotton in the previous season by the producers questioned was 5 ha, with an average yield of 
1.25 tonnes of seed cotton per hectare and an average income amounting to just over CFAF 1 million  
(Table 6).  
Table 6: Cultivation of seed cotton during the 2019/2020 season  
  Alibori  Atacora  Borgou  Collines  Zou Total  or average  
Area sown to cotton  5.9 5.4 2.5 2.5 3.1 5.00 
 
(4.8) (6.2) (2.0) (1.6) (2.9) (5.09)  
Quantity harvested  7,435.0  6,492.4  3,000.0  3,252.9  3,199.2  6,150.98  
 
(6,578.4)  (8,532.7)  (0.0) (2,373.3)  (3,785.9)  (6,914.29)  
Yield  1,319.7  1,132.3  1,700.9  1,250.7  965.7  1,248.68  
 
(1,128.9)  (282.9)  (888.2)  (557.3)  (310.5)  (831.05)  
Income from cotton  
(CFAF thousand)  1,176.7  1,441.3  681.4  861.9  449.4  1,144.87  
  (1,211.7)  (2,344.8)  (605.7)  (629.0)  (394.9)  (1,633.77)  
Source:  Survey data 2019.  
Cotton plant Seed cotton
Crop residueCotton stalks
Cotton leavesGinneries
Livestock penFuelManufacture of particle 
board
Building materials
Working into the 
soil
Burned Soap -making
Animal feedWT/CFMC/W/85  
 
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  3.1.2.2   Cotton stalks  
3.7.  The results for the various uses of cotton stalks are set out in Table 7: . Overall , close to a 
quarter of producers throw the stalks away and make no use of them whatsoever. The majority 
however (71.43%) burn them when preparing their fields for other crops. Some 35% of producers 
state that they work the stalks into the soil in the hope that they will decompose and improve soil 
fertility. Other uses to whic h the stalks are put include as a construction material, and the 
manufacture of soap and potash. Only one of the producers questioned said he had sold stalks.  
Table 7: The various uses made of cotton stalks by the producers  
  Alibori  Atacora  Borgou  Collines  Zou Total  
Thrown away unused  42 10 1 14 2 69  
(31.34)  (9.52)  (4) (100)  (6.67)  (22.4)  
Burned  123 53 24 0 20 220  
(91.79)  (50.48)  (96) (0) (66.67)  (71.43)  
Given to third party  8 10 0 0 7 25  
(5.97)  (9.52)  (0) (0) (23.33)  (8.12)  
Sold 0 0 0 0 1 1  
(0) (0) (0) (0) (3.33)  (0.32)  
Worked into the soil as fertilizer  18 63 7 1 19 108  
(13.43)  (60) (28) (7.14)  (63.33)  (35.06)  
Used as a construction material  4 3 0 0 1 8  
(2.99)  (2.86)  (0) (0 (3.33)  (2.6) 
Other uses  21 18 0 0 0 39 
  (15.67)  (17.14)  (0) (0) (0) (12.66)  
(): percentage.  
Source:  Survey data 2019.  
3.1.2.3   Cotton leaves  
3.8.  Producers harness value from crop residue (leaves and young stalks) by using their fields as 
cattle pens. Just 20.5% of producers questioned said they engaged in this practice ( Table 8). The 
producers report that there are two advantages to this practice: not only does it clear the fields 
somewhat , but the resulting cow dung can be worked in to improve soil quality. Some 53% of 
producers who have adopted this practice use their own cattle for this purpose, and 47% use cattle 
belong ing to others, very often for no monetary r eward.  
Table 8: Number of people questioned  who use cotton fields as cattle pens  
  Alibori  Atacora  Borgou  Collines  Zou Total  
Use cotton fields as cattle pens  30 23 0 1 9 63  
(22.39)  (21.9)  (0) (7.14)  (30) (20.45)  
For my own cattle  12 13  
1 0 26  
(66.67  (59.09)   
(100)  (0) (53.06)  
For other people 's cattle  8 10  
0 9 27  
(33.33  (40.91)   
(0 (100)  (46.94)  
Remuneration paid  6 0 0 0 0 6 
  (4.48)  (0) (0) (0) (0) (1.95  
Figures in parentheses are percentages (%).  
Source:  Survey data 2019.  
3.1.3   Market analysis for by-products  
3.9.  Among the cotton by-products within the primary production subsector, only seed cotton is 
sold formally. Harvested seed cotton is available at markets in heaps. It can be graded as first -choice 
seed cotton (clean, very white, lustrous and free of all impurities) or second choice seed cotton (dull 
in appearance compared to first -choice). The sale price of seed cotton is determined using a formal 
price-setting mechanism and is announced by the government at th e start of the season.  WT/CFMC/W/85  
 
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  3.10.   An analysis of Table 9  on the marketing of by -products of primary production shows that only 
seed cotton is sold because almost  all the people questioned said they had never sold any products 
other than seed cotton.  
3.11.   The cotton stalks left in the fields are collected by the women who use them to make soap 
and potash. These items are then sold on the local market.  
Table 9 Number of producers who have sold cotton crop residue s 
  Alibori  Atacora  Borgou  Collines  Zou Total  
Sale of products other than seed cotton (No)  131 106 25 8 30 300  
(97.04)  (100)  (100)  (57.14)  (100 (96.7)7  
Leaves  4 0 0 4 0 8  
(2.96)  0 0 (28.57)  0 (2.58)  
Leaves and stalks  0 0 0 1 0 1  
0 0 0 7.14)  0 0.32)  
Crop residue  0 0 0 1 0 1 
  0 0 0 7.14)  0 0.32)  
Figures in parentheses are percentages (%).  
Source:  Survey data 2019.  
 
3.1.4   Assessment of the by-products available in the primary production subsector  
3.12.   The two main by-products in the primary cotton production sector are seed cotton and cotton 
stalks. The changes in the quantities of each of these over the last 10 years is summarized in 
Table  10. The statistics on the changes in seed cotton production are taken from AIC data. The 
annual production of cotton stalks was estimated on the basis of seed cotton production. The 
coefficient  2 suggested in Kpadé et al. (2015), and Hougni (2019) was applied to seed cotton 
production in order to determine the quantity of cotton stalks.  
3.13.   It is clear from Table  10 that seed cotton production has grown over the 10 years in question 
from 140,000  tonnes in 2011 to an anticipated quantity of over 720,000  tonnes in 2020, a growth 
rate of 514% over the period. The strongest rises were from 2016 o nwards, the year of the reforms ; 
since that date , production has achieved all-time record levels for Benin . This explains why average 
annual production after the reforms (611,799  tonnes) far outstrips the annual average for the last 
10 years (400,293  tonne s). The record production this year (2020) ranks the country as the top 
cotton producer in West Africa, ahead of Mali and Burkina Faso, for the first time.  
3.14.   Since the availability of cotton stalks is linked to the quantity of seed cotton, stalk production 
therefore follows the same pattern as seed cotton production. Cotton stalk production rose from 
274,000  tonnes in 2011 to 1,440,000  tonnes in 2020. Cotton stalk production is significant: it  
averaged 800,586  tonnes per year over the last 10  years, and 1,223 ,597 tonnes per year in the last 
four seasons  during which the reforms  were implemented . 
Table  10: Production of seed cotton and estimate of cotton stalk quantities  
Season  Seed cotton production ( tonnes)  Cotton stalk s 
(tonne s) 
2010-11 137,000  274,000  
2011-12 174,000  348,000  
2012-13 250,000  500,000  
2013-14 298,049  596,098  
2014-15 393,367  786,734  
2015-16 303,320  606,640  
2016-17 451,209  902,418  
2017-18 597,985  1,195,970  
2018-19 678,000  1,356,000  
2019-20* 720,000  1,440,000  
10-year average  400,293  800,586  
Average after the reforms (2016)  611,799  1,223,597  
Source:  Estimated by the authors on the basis of AIC data (2019).  WT/CFMC/W/85  
 
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  3.1.5   Strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats: by-products  
3.15.   When questioned about the strengths for development of by -products in the primary 
production subsector, the producers mentioned several factors including the structure of the 
industry, the larg e quantity of by -products available, and their understanding of by -products as a 
means of diversifying and supplementing their income streams ( Table  10). On weaknesses, the 
producers pointed to poor or non -existent leadership on by -products other than seed cotton, the 
absence of equipment and technology to unlock the value of by -products and the absence of policy, 
national initiatives and structures (NGOs , research, projects) investing in unlocking the value of 
cotton by -products.  
3.16.   Producers also identified a number of opportunities linked to  the development of cotton 
by-products. These included strengthening the country's  economy by adding greater value to the 
industry, job creation opportunities, and the development of income -generating activities for 
vulnerable social groups such as women and young people. The producers also suggested factors 
that could threaten the deve lopment of cotton by-products and noted that future interventions 
should be ar those factors in mind  in order to prevent the  threats  from becoming reality . These 
included a probable increase in the theft of ( newly valuable) by-products, the emergence of dis putes 
between producers, and drawbacks such as the loss of soil fertility as a result of not working organic 
matter into the soil, a shortage of stalks to use as fuel wood, and a lack of crop residue for cattle.    
Table  11: Strengt hs, weaknesses, opportunities and threats in the primary production 
subsector  
Strengths  Weaknesses  
The industry is well organized, with an umbrella 
organization for producers  Inadequate or non -existent leadership for 
development of by -products (stalks)  
Arable land and fertile soil available, a willingness to 
succeed  No equipment for the development  
Cotton stalks available  Absence of know -how on uses of by -products  
Availability of cotton stalks  The strenuous work involved in grubbing 
up/uproo ting the stalks  
Awareness that stalks are an opportunity to make 
extra sales  Lack of livestock to make use of the crop residue  
Source of supplementary income  Lack of financial means, shortage of family labour  
Another raw material that can be developed by  the 
industry  High cost of labour to provide assist ance 
Motivates farmers to cultivate more land  Problems transporting stalks because of the state of 
the ro ads 
Makes it easier to prepare the cotton fields  Lack or absence of awareness on the importance of 
stalks  
Availability of cotton stalks in large quantities and 
availability of labour  High cost of transporting stalks to point of sale  
Prevents or reduce s deforestation  Grubbing up and heaping, soil depletion through lack 
of organic matter  
Labour available for grubbing up  Absence of structures (projects and NGOs) to unlock 
the value of stalks 
Guaranteed sales outlet for seed cotton  Absence of a policy to unlock the value of cotton 
by-products  
Significant family labour, knowledge of  cotton 
production  No national initiative to enhance cotton stalk value  
Oxen available to enhance the value of residue s  
Support from key personnel   
Peulh camps close to the fields that might be used 
on a rotating basis as holding pens   
Availability of cotton by -products   
 WT/CFMC/W/85  
 
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  Opportunities  Threats  
Strengthen the national economy and motivate 
farmers to produce more  Increase in thefts of stalks and disputes between 
producers  
Option to establish processing plants  Lack of stalks to make compost  
Create new jobs, other sources of income for cotton 
growers, better preparation of soil for ploughing  Soil depletion through  lack of organic matter  
Development of activities to process cotton stalks 
into soap  Risk of long -term destruction of soil richness in the 
event of failure to follow fertility laws  
Harness value from cotton stalks through women 
making soap  Competition with women who use stalk bundles in 
the home as fuel wood  
Opportunity to harness value from or support local 
processors  Periods when fuel wood is scarce, primarily in the 
rainy season  
Existence of small groups unlocking the value of 
cotton by -products  Pressure on the few woody species that are still 
available  
Benefit from having the  stalks and s elling them to 
provide  an income stream and prevent delay s in 
field preparation   
Reduce outbreaks of insect pests   
New agricultural income streams, creation of new 
jobs for young people   
Improvement in producers ' living conditions   
Source:  Surveys 2019.  
 
3.2  Cotton ginning subsector  
3.2.1   Subsector stakeholders  
3.17.   The stakeholders in this sector are essentially the cotton -ginning companies. The 
ginning -companies whose factories dot the Beninese landscape generally belong to four companies: 
the Cotton Development Company (SODECO), Label Coton Bénin (LCB) from the Aiglon group, Bénin 
Coton (formerly Marlan 's Cotton Industries) and the Sino -Beninese  Cotton Processing Company. 
They are grouped together into an association that is affiliated to the AIC, namely the National 
Association of Cotton Ginners  (ANEC). The companies have a total of 20 or so factories , all distributed 
geographically across the c ountry in line with production levels.  
3.18.   The association 's functions within the AIC are as follows:  
• to make proposals on the distribution of the seed cotton produced;  
• 40% payment on account;  
• to gin seed cotton ; 
• to place cotton lint for export ; 
• to supply local industry with cottonseed  and cotton lint.  
3.19.   Sixteen (16) of the twenty (20) factories were visited as part of this study, i.e.  80%.  
3.2.2   Subsector by-products  
3.20.   There are three or four by-products of cotton ginning, depending on the type of ginnery  in 
question. Most ginneries are semi -modern or modern. Only one is old , having been  established 
almost 40 years ago. The newest ones have a lint cleaner and produce four by-products ( Figure  5) 
whereas the oldest do not and produce three by-products. The four by-products of cotton ginning 
are: 
• lint;  
• the seed, a share of which is for use in seed production and the rest in oil mills;  
• lint cleaner waste  (marketable waste); and  
• gin waste (non -marketable ) or gin motes.  WT/CFMC/W/85  
 
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  Figure  5: Diagram of seed cotton by -products  
 
 
3.2.3   Market analysis of by-products from this subsector  
3.21.   After peaking in 2014 -15 (393,367  tonnes) seed cotton production fell in 2015 -16 
(303,320  tonnes) before booming again in 2016 -17 and attaining a record of 678,000 tonnes in the 
2018-19 season. The pattern  observed over that last three years is the result of the reforms  
implemented  by the State and the State 's withdrawal from the sector. An estimate of the by-products 
from the ginning subsector for the same period is set out in  Table  12. 
3.22.   Cotton production in Benin has fluctuated over the last 10 years but has been rapidly 
increasing during the three most recent seasons. The production statistics obtained using data from 
the PR -PICA Secretariat  have been used to estimate the quantities of by-product from the ginning 
subsector.  
Table  12: Ginning subsector by-products  
Season  Cottonseed  
production  
(tonnes)  Lint 
(42.5%)  Seed  
(52.5%)  Lint 
cleaner 
waste  
(0.005%)  Gin 
motes  
(0.045%)  
2010 -11 137,000  58,225  71,925  685 6,165  
2011 -12 174,000  73,950  91,350  870 7,830  
2012 -13 250,000  106,250  131,250  1,250  11,250  
2013 -14 298,049  126,671  156,476  1,490  13,412  
2014 -15 393,367  167,181  206,518  1,967  17,702  
2015 -16 303,320  128,911  159,243  1,517  13,649  
2016 -17 451,209  191,764  236,885  2,256  20,304  
2016 -17 597,985  254,144  313,942  2,990  26,909  
2018 -19 678,000  288,150  355,950  3,390  30,510  
2019 -20* 720,000  306,000  378,000  3,600  32,400  
10-year average  400,293  170,125  210,154  2,001  18,013  
Average after the reforms (2016)  611,799  260,014  321,194  3,059  27,531  
Source:  PR-PICA data.  
* Data estimated using AIC statistics ( AIC, 2019).  
WT/CFMC/W/85  
 
- 32 - 
 
  3.23.   Around 9 5-97% of the lint produced is exported. The remainder is sold to the Beninese Textile 
Company (CBT) or the Société des Textiles. Data on the factories' characteristics were collected and 
can be summarized as follows:  
❖ Start and end of production period  
3.24.   Ginning takes place from November to June. Around 90% of the 16  factories visited work 
between eight and 10  months in every 12. The rest (10%) work between six and seven  months. The 
peak period when seed cotton is in abundant supply runs from January to March.  
❖ Method of finance  
3.25.   The bulk of factories operate using own resources and bank loans. The high interest rate. 
should be noted.  
❖ Type  and origin of clients , and place of sale of products from the ginning subsector  
3.26.   Where seeds are concerned, the oil mills ar e the ginning companies ' best customers, followed 
by wholesalers from hinterland countries, Nigeria, and then local companies producing animal feed.  
❖ Start and end of sale period for ginning by-products  
3.27.   The period during which seed is sold to oil mills or f or export begins soon after ginning 
commences and continues for several months , beginning in December.  
❖ Number and types of employee  
3.28.   Two categories of staff are employed in the factories : temporary and permanent.  
3.29.   Ginning employs on average between 230 and 280 men and 15 to 20 women on a temporary 
basis. Among permanent staff , the numbers range between 15  and 25  men, and 2  and 5  women It 
is clear from this study that women are poorly represented, accounting on average for less than 
15% of permanent employees. The posts they hold are in secretarial and accountancy services. 
Amon g temporary staff, they hold less than 10% of jobs, although this is because of the strenuous 
physical effort that the activities in question demand.  
❖ Demand for ginning subsector by-products  
3.30.   After ginning, around 190,000  tonnes of seed are supplied to the Benin Oil Refining Company  
(SHB) and Fludor oil mills ; companies that specialize in marketing feed for poultry, monogastric 
animals, small and large ruminants ; and farmers. Local consumption of seed ranges between 50% 
and 58%. The rest is exported to the h interland countries or other destinations including Niger, Mali, 
Burkina Faso, and Nigeria ( Table  13). 
Table  13: Quantities, valu es and importing countries for seed cotton of Beninese origin  
Importers  2015  2016  2017  
Quantity 
(tonnes)  Value (USD 
thousand)  Quantity 
(tonnes)  Value (USD 
thousand)  Quantity 
(tonnes)  Value (USD 
thousand)  
Burkina  Faso     118 3 9,303 994 
Togo     800 112 5,000 801 
Denmark        2,000 599 
India    1,024 91 854 135 
Niger        701 88 
Korea, 
Republic of  1,284 124    260 31 
Belgium        150 18 
Turkey        99 18 
Pakistan        80 6 
Saudi Arabia, 
Kingdom of  2,055 330 4,017 526    
Morocco  54 8       WT/CFMC/W/85  
 
- 33 - 
 
  Importers  2015  2016  2017  
Quantity 
(tonnes)  Value (USD 
thousand)  Quantity 
(tonnes)  Value (USD 
thousand)  Quantity 
(tonnes)  Value (USD 
thousand)  
Italy 3,886 613 6,628 698    
Spain  250 25 16,938 2001    
World  7,529 1100  28,725 3433  18,446 2690  
Source:  Tradema.org.  
3.31.   Both factories combined  are unable to consume all the seed produced nationally. Figure  6 
compares the level of cottonseed  production and local consumption by the two cottonsee d mills. 
Between 2016 and 2018 the supply of seeds to the two cottonseed  mills was lower than the national 
output.  
❖ Types of markets and clients  
3.32.   Our enquiries revealed that the production surplus is exported to the hinterland countries 
(Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso) and Nigeria in an unprocessed  state. The gap between national output 
and the supply to the two mills is greater than the quantity cons umed nationally . This means that 
more than half the seed produced this year must be sold on the regional market. This is a loss to 
the national economy. Adding value to a significant share of this quantity of seed is a golden 
opportunity that could benefit  the country 's economy by creating jobs, contributing to food security 
and reducing the health problems associated with  the consumption of imported oils , the quality of 
which leaves something to be desired.  
3.33.   Figure  7 plots the change in the supply of cottonseed  from 2016 to 2018. It shows that the 
quantities of seeds supplied to the factories are growing markedly. The mills are working at almost 
full capacity.  
3.34.   Note that the quantities of seed supplied to Fludor are lower than those supplied to SHB. This 
is reflected in the policy of diversifying production and raw material s. Fludor  SA adds value not only 
to cottonseed  but to soya  and shea. As a result, a significant chunk of time is spent on producing  
soya oil and shea oil/butter, all of which are for export. The policy of diversification was introduced 
when cotton production in Benin was trending steadily downward.  WT/CFMC/W/85  
 
- 34 - 
 
  Figure  6: Comparison of seed output and local supply of oil mills  
 
Source:  Study, 2019.  
Figure  7: Change in supply of seed to cottonseed  mills  
 
Source:  Study, 2019.  
3.2.4   Strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats: by-products  
3.35.   The strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats in respect of the ginning subsector are 
summarized in Table  14. 
WT/CFMC/W/85  
 
- 35 - 
 
  Table  14: Ginning subsector SWOT  
STRENGTHS  WEAKNESSES  
Physical check of seed at the factories . A dynamic, 
professional team allocated to the task. Large ginning 
capacity.  Complaints about lint dust from the local population.  
Creation of many jobs (men and women).  Fire risk and risk of shortages in supplies of  industrial 
inputs . 
High contribution to tax receipts. High level of 
urbanization in regions wher e the factories are 
situat ed. Absence of a properly protected storage area.  
Incidence of foreign bodies in seed cotton.  
Income -generating activities for women.  No spare parts available in the event of equipment 
failure.  
Competent staff.  Scheduled shutdown to allow for maintenance. 
Generators are heavy consumers of diesel.  
Availability of material resources.  Grading still performed manually (lint). Occasional 
poor quality of raw material (intentional water 
damage, sand, stalks and grit).   
Acquisition of new management tools following major 
investment.  Inadequate spare parts, machines often break down, 
delays in effective start of marketing. Slow removal 
of end product . 
Availability of raw material.  Kit for carriers not up to date.  
Appropriate modern technology. Availability of raw 
material.  Delay in marketing.  
Computer -aided management of maintenance.  SBEE regulates use of the electricity network.  
Support for staff.  Absence of a secure environment.  
 Absence of lorry parking. Burd en of customs red -tape 
at ports.  
OPPORTUNITIES  THREATS  
Up-to-date training at a technical school in addition to 
capacity building.  Demographic pressures.  
Demanding nature of the work.  Failure to comply with safety precautions.  
Person in charge resident on -site. Unfavourable political circumstances.  
Factory in an area of high production , prompt start of 
operations  in the ginning season.  Delay in removing end product, early rains, 
unfavourable political consequences.  
Rapid removal of finished pr oduct.  Noise pollution.  
High production in north.  Absence of legislation on safety at work and the 
environment.  
Increase in cotton production nationally.  Issues with residents over land ownership.  
Institutional reform that seeks to unlock the value of 
cotton.  Intentional water damage to the seed cotton.  
Increased ginning capacity ( factory with two or even 
three gins).  Risk of premature machine failure as a result of 
producers putting stones into it duplicitously.  
Shorter ginning times, lorry waiting times and seed 
cotton storage time.  Presence of leaves and stalks in the seed cotton.  
Connect factories  to the SBEE net work.  Premature equipment failure as a result of poor 
practices.  
 
3.3  By-products in the milling subsector  
3.3.1   Mapping of subsector stakeholders  
3.36.   In Benin prior to the 1990s only lint and cottonseed  were viewed as having enhanced value 
as by-products. The arrival of oil mills, in particular SHB and Fludor, unlocked the value o f other 
by-products.  
3.37.   Only two of the country 's three oil mills, namely Fludor  SA and the Benin Oil Refining Company 
(SHB) are  operational. They are grouped together under G -Tri, the Groupement des triturateurs  (the 
millers ' producer group).  
3.38.   Fludor has fully paid -up capital of CFAF 3,350,000,000. It began crushing seed in May  2000. 
The factory's capacity is 300  tonnes of cottonse ed per day. Since experiencing supply difficulties in 
2005, it has followed a policy of diversifying the raw materials it handles to include soya beans, palm 
kernels and sunflower seed.  WT/CFMC/W/85  
 
- 36 - 
 
  3.39.   The SHB has capital of CFAF 4,176,500,000 in the form of 417,650  share s worth CFAF 10,000 
each. Like Fludor, it is located in Bohicon in the department of Zou, around 123  km from Cotonou, 
the country 's economic capital.  
3.40.   FLUDOR was the first company to be established (1996) ; it has  a milling capacity of 
90,000  metric tonnes of cottonseed  per year and produces Fludor branded oil. The SHB has a 
processing capacity of 110,000  tonnes of seed per year. The oil produced by SHB is known as 
"Vitalor ". 
3.41.   Thus the total milling capacity of Beni n is 210,000  tonnes , and the country can produce 
40,000  tonnes of cotton oil and 95,000  tonnes of oilcake per year. The value unlocked in  cottonseed  
in the form of enriched edible oil, animal feed and cotton oilcake accounts for a significant share of 
the national economy 's value added.  
3.42.   The oil mill is almost self -sufficient in power because it burns husks (45% of the seed) to 
generate steam which powers  the manufacturing process and drives  a steam  turbine generator.  
3.43.   In principle , the two factories have no difficulties with cottonseed  supply because they are 
SODECO 's priority customers and nationally the output of seed far outstrips the country 's needs.  
3.3.2   Subsector by-products  
3.44.   The enterprises that mill the by-products use cottonseed  as a raw material exclusive ly (100% 
of enterprises). The by-products that emerge from the cottonseed s processed at the two factories 
are: 
• oil; 
• oilcake in meal or pellet form;  
• husks;  
• ash; 
• animal feed (produced by SHB only);  
• free fatty acids;  
• waste . WT/CFMC/W/85  
 
- 37 - 
 
  Figure  8: Diagram of by-products from the milling subsector  
 
 
3.45.   Table  15 sets out the quantities of by -products obtained by the two pla nts. 
Table  15: Estimated quantities of by-products from the milling subsector, in tonnes (t)  
Years  2016  2017  2018  2019  
Millers  SHB Fludor  SHB Fludor  SHB Fludor  SHB Fludor  
Seed (t)  84,515.6  53,549  100,736.7  72,000  90,236.2  76,266  120,000  120,000  
Oilcake (t)  35,496.5  21,419.6  42,309.4  28,800  37,899.2  30,506.4  50,400  48,000  
Oil (t)  14,790.2  8,032.4  17,628.9  10,800  15,791.3  11,439.9  21,000  18,000  
Husk (t)  32,115.9  21,419.6  38,279.9  28,800  34,289.8  30,506.4  45,600  48,000  
Waste  2,112.9  2,677.5  2,518.4  3,600  2,255.9  3,813.3  3,000  6,000  
Source: Data estimated on the basis of responses received during the stud y, 2019.  
t = tonnes.  
3.3.2.1   Refined oil  
3.46.   The oils obtained are exported, overwhelmingly to Nigeria (over 85%) , and only 10% are 
marketed on the Beninese market. This can be explained essentially by unfair competition from 
imported oils that are cheaper and of poorer quality than the better -quality  locally produced oils. 
3.3.2.2   Oilcake  
3.47.   Oilcake ( in pellets or meal) ob tained after milling seed is purchased by wholesalers and 
semi-wholesalers for local use or export. The bulk of oilcake customers are from countries such as 
Côte d'Ivoire , Ghana, India, Turkey and South Africa. The rest of the oilcake is sold on the local 
market after a proportion is mixed with husks to make animal feed .  
3.48.   Several companies in Benin such as Groupe Veto Service , Terres et associées Agrisatch , Ets 
la Confiance , Qualité , and local mixed farmers are the major Beninese users of the oilcake.  
WT/CFMC/W/85  
 
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  3.49.   Figure  9 shows oilcake output for each milling factory . The quantity of oilcake produced by 
SHB is higher than that produced by Fludor.  
Figure  9: Estimated quantities of oilcake produced by the two cottonseed  mills  
 
Source:  Survey data 2019.  
Figure 10: Oilcake in meal for animal feed  
 
Source:  Study, 2019.  
WT/CFMC/W/85  
 
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  3.3.2.3   Husks  
3.50.   The main use of husks is as fuel: they are burned to produce energy for the boiler. Husk 
burning also produces organic fertilizer. Husks are also used as a culture substrate for mushrooms 
and as an additive to animal feed. They are used in the manufacture of animal feed .  
3.51.   Figure  11 shows how husk production has developed. We can see that in 2017 production 
peaked before falling in 2018. This is because in 2017 the factories stored seed that was not used 
until 2018.  
Figure  11: Quantity of husks produced over the past three years by the cottonseed  mills  
 
 
Figure  12: Cottonseed  husk s 
 
Source:  Study, 2019.  
 
3.3.2.4   Animal feed  
3.52.   Animal feed comprises oilcake (70%) and husks (30%). It has been produced by a unit within 
the SHB factory for a number of  years. Despite awareness -raising campaigns, national consumption 
is low compared to that of hinterland countries. However, in the northern region of the country, 
demand is rising consistently. A number of pieces of research conducted by the Agronomy Faculty 
of Parakou University i n conjunction with the unit producing the feed have demonstrated the effect 
WT/CFMC/W/85  
 
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  of the feed on average daily gain for livestock and daily milk production. The production of animal 
feed has grown exponentially. It has increased more than five -fold in two years (Figure  13). 
3.53.   In Benin,  the product is used only by mixed farmers and a few local farmers of  monogastric 
livestock . The main consumer countries are Niger, Burkina  Faso and Mali. It should be noted that i n 
the Peulh region, milk is produced by  women. It is their main source of income. Therefore by 
increasing daily milk production, women 's income will rise.  
3.54.   The main cus tomers are wholesalers or semi -wholesalers . The markets for these by -products 
are chiefly the regional market and the international market : the local market is a minor affair. 
Animal feed is produced by SHB only.  
Figure  13: SHB animal feed  production levels, 2016 -18 
 
Source: Photos taken during field studies, 2019.  
Figure  14: Animal feed 
 
Source:  Photos taken during field studies, 2019.  
WT/CFMC/W/85  
 
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  3.3.2.5   Ash and fatty acids  
3.55.   Ash produced by combustion and undesirable fatty acids are used in soap production . They 
are sold to women from the border regions (Nigeria, Togo)  who use them to make soap . 
3.3.3   Market analysis of by-products from this subsector  
❖ Cottonseed  required by business  
3.56.   Comparison of  cottonseed  requirements with the quantities received does not reveal any 
significant gaps over the last three years.  
3.57.   Indeed, the annual requirement of the two factories is 210,000  tonnes of seed, but they 
receive between 170,000  t and 190,000  t per year. On average , in the past three years, SHB 
received 91,829.49  tonnes and Fludor 67,271.67  tonnes.  
❖ Level of satisfaction among businesses as to seed availability and quality  
3.58.   Both the companies interviewed were satisfied with the supply of the raw m aterial. They were 
not entirely satisfied with the seed quality because sometimes high quantities of spoiled seed are 
returned to the suppliers ( ginneries ).  
3.59.   Obtaining seed is not an issue for the businesses because there is a surplus which the cotton 
comp anies export. In the peak period the average quantity of cottonseed  obtained by each 
processing unit ranges from 50,000  t to 100,000  tonnes at an average price of CFAF 65,000 per 
tonne.  
3.60.   For three years , the companies have had no shortages because cotton production has been 
rising substantially.  
❖ Activity periods of factories processing cotton by-products  
3.61.   The production period for most processing factories runs from January to November.  
❖ Sales period for by-products from seed processing  
3.62.   The periods of high demand are the months of November to October where demand is fairly 
satisfactory. SHB makes sales from November to September , while Fludor does so from April to 
February.  
❖ Productivity of  by-product processing units  
3.63.   The data collected show that the two factories do not have the same levels of productivity. 
One tonne of cottonseed  can produce 175   L of oil, 420  kg of oilcake , 380 kg of husks and 25  kg of 
waste (FFA ) at SHB. By contrast , the data from Fludor show that it produces 150   L of oil, 400  kg of 
oilcake, 400  kg of husks and 50  kg of waste. The production by Fludor of linters has been 
discontinued because of health problems among staff and environmental pollution.  
Table  16: Quantity of by-products obtained from one tonne of cottonseed  
Yields  SHB Fludor  
Oil (L/t)  175 150 
Oilcake (kg/t)  420 400 
Husks (kg/t)  380 400 
Waste (kg/t)  25  50 
 
❖ Estimate of three -year turnover over three years for processing units   
3.64.   Table  17 shows an estimate of the turnover of one milling factory over three years of sales . WT/CFMC/W/85  
 
- 42 - 
 
  Table  17: Quantity of by-products obtained from one tonne of cottonseed  
By-products  Oil Oilcake  Husks  Animal feed 
Quantity sold  42,013  28,000  39,078  39,078  
Indicative price  519,000  98,000  13,000  68,000  
Amount  21,805,000,272  2,744,000,000  508,014,936  2,657,308,896  
Total 27,714,324,104  
Total (EUR)  42,250,344  
Source:  Calculated using data collected.  
Table  18: Estimate of milling companies ' turnover in 2018  
By-products  SHB Fludor  
Quantity  Unit price   Amount   Quantity   Unit price   Amount  
Oil  15,791  519,000  8,195,706,407  11,440 519,000  5,937,308,100  
Oilcake  37,899  98,000  3,714,123,597  30,506  98,000  2,989,627,200  
Husks      - 30,506  13,000  396,583,200  
Animal feed 18,747  68,000  1,274,796,000  -     
Total CFAF     13,184,626,004      9,323,518,500  
Total EUR    20,099,894    14,213,656  
Source  Data estimated from field studies, 2019.  
 
3.65.   Note that our assumption is that no husks were sold because they were used to produce 
energy.  
3.66.   These activities make high use of local labour, directly generating over a thousand jobs, and 
feeding thousands of families. However, t he percentage of women working on a temporary or 
permanent basis varies between 16% and 18%, indicating  that women are poorly represented. This 
is because of the physical intensity  of the activities undertaken in the company . Nonetheless we 
should make the case for the greater involvement of women when developing these activities , 
especially given the  benefits that they bring to the sector . All around the milling factories , women 
are setting up small -scale income -generating activities.  
3.67.   Oilcake, whether in meal or pellet form to facilitate transport, is the second most sought -after 
by-product from cottonseed  milling factories .  
3.68.   Seed production has risen substantially and, by extension, oilcake production has too. The 
growth rate in oilcake output has ranged from 6% to 32%.  
3.69.   At SHB it was 19% then fell to 6%  as a result of the  seed stock held over from 2017. Although 
the factory's  capacity is 90,000  t, it had been supplied with 100,000  t. It was therefore unable to 
mill all the seed. This reflects fluctuating market needs and probably the company 's metric capacity.  
3.70.   Fludor exper ienced increases of 31% and 32%. This very high rate could be the result of 
management policy, which was to afford priority to cottonseed . Note that the metric capacity of 
Fludor has not yet been reached. That is why it has set a milling  target for this ye ar of 
120,000  tonnes of cottonseed . 
3.71.   There are two destinations for husks. The first is energy generation , the second is marketing . 
Husks are  used in the production of animal feed or in manufacturing culture substrate for 
mushrooms.  
3.72.   The main client countri es are those in the sub -region where stockbreeding is more developed.  
❖ Markets for products produced by processing cotton by-products  
3.73.   Regional and international markets are the main outlets for cotton by-products. Local 
consumption varies depending on the by-product in question but is low compared to the markets . It 
accounts for between 10 -20% for all categories of by-products taken toge ther.  WT/CFMC/W/85  
 
- 43 - 
 
  3.74.   At national level, the two businesses sell their output in the country 's major cities, including 
Cotonou, Abomey -Calavi, Porto -Novo, Bohicon, Parakou and Natitingou.  
3.75.   Analysis of the products ' channels of distribution shows that all businesses (100% ) sell their 
products to wholesalers and semi -wholesalers with a very small share going to retailers (around 
5%). 
3.76.   Note that competition from imported oils ( Table  19) forces milling companies to favour  
export ing the cottonseed oil produce d locally . The imported oils  are principally  palm oil , which  is by 
far the market leader, followed by groundnut oil.  
Table  19: Imports (in tonnes) of oils into Benin  
Type of oil  2014  2015  2016  2017  2018  
Palm oil and its fractions  65,562  129,073  150,869  225,447  260,337  
Groundnut oil and its fractions  2,106  15,967  8,515  22,699  7,303  
Sunflower -seed, safflower or cotton -seed oil and 
fractions thereof, whether or not refined  1,752  1,189  1,487  4,209  3,840  
Coconut (copra) or palm kernel oil and fractions thereof    4,833  16,002  5,319  332 
Olive oil and its fractions obtained from the fruit of the 
olive tree  205 48 41 139 116 
Rape, colza or mustard oil and fractions thereof  1     6,082  9 
Soya-bean oil and its fractions, whether or not refined  24   171     
Oils and their fractions obtained solely from olives and 
by means other than those referred to above  11 8 1,318  105   
Source:  Trade Map, ITC, 2019.  
 
3.77.   The majority of oilcake is also exported to several destinations ( Table  20) and its value is not 
exploited locally in animal production despite its potential for increasing the average daily nutritional 
gain of ruminants. The main countries of export are Tu rkey, India, South Africa and Mauritania.  
Table  20: Quantities (tonnes) of exports of oilcake and other solid residues, whether or 
not ground or in the form of pellets, resulting from extraction  
Importers  2014  2015  2016  2017  2018  
World  23,489  27,186  18,363  17,131  77,275  
Turkey        2,938  25,386  
India 336   5,840  187 23,973  
South Africa  16,299  25,100  10,778  8,031  18,703  
Mauritania    153 355 510 1,807  
Bangladesh          1,777  
Romania        93 1,516  
Ghana  2,586  783     1,005  
China  2,911        894 
France          707 
Oman          680 
Cameroon          220 
Niger      35 143 204 
Viet Nam       110 160 
Togo 593 649 1001 120 110 
Mali         80 
Burkina  Faso         44 
Spain          10 
Algeria    500       
Côte d'Ivoire  765   294     
Nigeria      60 5,000    
Source:  Trade Map, ITC, 2019.  
 WT/CFMC/W/85  
 
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  3.3.4   Other institutions supporting  the subsector  
3.78.   The institutions that support the subsector include:  
- the Directorate of Food and Applied Nutrition (DANA): its role is to check products;  
- the Association of Oil -Producing Industries  (AIFO): a sub -regional institution responsible 
for overseeing the availability of the raw material and placing the oils  on the market ; 
- the Council of Private Investors of Benin (CIPB);  
- the National Association of Industries of Benin  (ASNIB);  
- the role of the Millers' Group  (G Tri) is to determine the seed distribution scheme, establish 
new policies and approaches , and to lobby ;  
- the Association of Private Investors of Benin  (AIPB);  
- the ginners; 
- the Ministry of Agriculture through the Plant Production Directorate;  
- the African Cotton Association (ACA);  
- the Investment and Export Promotion Association (APIEX ); 
- the Ministry of Industry and Trade;  
- the Ministry of the Economy and Finance . 
 
❖ Partnership for training, seminars, exchanges of parts   
1. SHB; 
2. NiOTO;  
3. SNCiTEC: New Oil and Soap Company .  
❖ Interests and influences of processing stakeholders in the sector  
3.79.   We note that businesses are of the view that all stakeholders have a strong i nfluence in the 
cotton by-products processing sector. The cotton companies have the greatest influence (10  points).  
3.3.5   Strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats: by-products  
Table  21: SWOT for the milling subsector  
Strengths  Weaknesses  
Spare parts available  Poor harnessing of financial credit  
Modern factory in perfect operational 
order  No technology to manufacture animal feed 
Industrial production of soap  No packing line  
Asian expertise  Lack of Beninese supply  
Good quality, competent human resources  Slump in the local market  
Food safety ensured through product 
quality  No animal feed manufacturing unit (Fludor)  
Modern, up -to-date technology  Husk production halted  
No foam in oils  Over-reliance of the cottonseed  subsector on the cotton sector 
and consequently on the cotton lint that is the main reason for 
cotton cultivation  
Good quality, odour free  No treatment station  
Product quality fairly high   
Treatment station    
No oil in the oilcake   
Opportunities  Threats  
Foothold to be gained in Beninese market  Composition of animal feed restricted to oilcake and husks  
Regulation of the oil sector  Production of animal feed dependent on demand for oil  
Local market available  Low take -up of animal feed by Beninese stockfarmers  
Availability of seed  Millers not members of the AIC  
Investment Code in place   
Consultation framework for millers in 
place  Closure of the border with Nigeria. Market 
fluctuation/instability  
Opportunity to gain a foothold in other 
markets and diversify activities  Composition of animal feed 
Favourable environment  Natural disaster devastating cotton production  
Opportunity to adapt new technologies to 
those currently in place  Unfair competition in the market for oils, in this case oils 
imported from Asia that enter the markets at very low prices  
Opportunity to treat waste water  Low variability in demand  
Opportunity to reduce the quantity of 
oilcake for export  Competition with palm oil  WT/CFMC/W/85  
 
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  Opportunities  Threats  
Cheap Asian technology available for 
presses  Fluctuation in the market for husks. Environmental  issues. 
Strict regulations in some countries  
Rising local demand for cottonseed  and 
oils  Heavy reliance of the cottonseed  subsector on the cotton 
sector and consequently on the cotton lint that is the main 
reason for cotton cultivation. Fluctuation in world prices tend s 
to discourage upstream producers  
Opportunity to set up a new factory  Low local consumption  
Creation of thousands of jobs and 
contribution to tax receipts to develop the 
country 's economy  Environmental issues  
 
 
❖ Challenges to meet in the by-products subsector  
- improve design, packing ; 
- conduct tests ; 
- hold exchange visits to test sites ; 
- rename the product using a local language ; 
- reward a number of mixed farmers regarded as taking the lead (oilcake) . 
3.4  Other s takeholders questioned  
3.4.1   Mixed farmers  
3.80.   In total , 29 mixed farmers were questioned. They were between 27 and 60 years of age.  
3.81.   All (100%) of the mixed farmers questioned use gin waste acquired  from ginning sites and 
animal feed procured from authorized bodies such as the Véto Services group or from livestock 
farmers ' associations (UCOPER and UDOPER) to feed their livestock.  
3.82.   Additionally , the cotton fields  are used for grazing, so leaves, young stems and other waste 
is used as pasturage for livestock .  
3.83.   The purchase price of gin waste ranges from CFAF 3,000  to 5,000 per tonne. Most mixed 
farmers negotiate with the cotton farmers before putting their livestock to pasture on the cotton  
fields.  
3.84.   The stakeholders questioned, and their level of involvement and influence , are summarized 
in Table  22. 
Table  22: Stakeho lders ' level of involvement and influence  
Scale of 1 to 10, 10 being the highest.  
 
Stakeholders  Level of influence  Focus  
Cotton farmer  9 6 
Ginner  8 5 
Transporter  6 5 
UCOPER  8 8 
UDOPER  8 8 
UNADER  8 8 
FNDA  7 6 
ATDA  7 6 
PAFILAV  8 8 
APESSE  7 8 
Swiss Cooperation  7 8 
 
3.85.   The focus groups enabled us to identify strengths , weaknesses, threats and opportunities as 
set out in Table  23. WT/CFMC/W/85  
 
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  Table  23: SWOT as perceived by mixed farming stakeholders  
STRENGTHS  WEAKNESSES  
Existence/ availability of animal feed  
Legislation and texts on space management in 
place.  Difficult to access oilcake  
High price of cottonseed   
Availability of livestock  No animal feed in the dry season  
Availability of cattle markets  Cotton oilcake not available in the commune   
High price of cotton waste (gin motes)  
Knowledge of animal feed processing  Tenure of grazing corridors  
Well positioned to integrate arable farming into 
livestock farming  Failure to observe areas allocated to livestock farming  
Highly skilled in producing li vestock products and 
derivatives  Lack of grazing area  
- Frequency of bovine diseases  
- Lack of livestock corridors because of cashew nut holdings 
and farm forestry  
-  Lack of water for livestock  
Deforestation well under way including the cutting of 
fodder trees such as Khaya senegalensis  (Dryzone 
Mahogany)  
Recurrent conflict between arable and livestock farming  
- Absence of support for value -development initiatives  
- Very high purchase prices o f animal feed and factory 
waste  
- Weak presence of mixed and livestock farmers " 
organizations in infrastructure management  
- Lack of availability of units to process animal feed locally  
OPPORTUNITIES  THREATS  
Land availability  Poor soil and erratic rainfall  
Integration of crops and livestock  Inadequate infrastructure  
Support of a number of microfinance institutions  Haphazard infrastructure use 
Livestock profitability  Decisions by the a uthorities  that undermine  livestock 
farming and promot e arable farming to the detriment of 
livestock  
Existence of projects supporting ar able farming  Repeated conflict between arable and livestock farmers  
- Failure to implement rules on land occupancy for arable 
and livestock farmers  
- Poor quality of ginning waste  
 
3.4.2   Weavers  
3.86.   A total of 28  weavers were questioned, subdivided into two groups: the first used woven 
cotton yarn  and the second, imported yarn.  
3.87.   The people engaged in this activity are between 53 and 75 years of age and are supported by 
younger people ( between 27 and 33 years old) who take care of the cash -flow and secretarial tasks 
where the activity is well -structured.  
3.88.   The local market is the onl y one available for the resulting products, and customers are from 
the surrounding villages or, for ceremonies, the cities. There is no official source of supply. The seed 
cotton used is either gathered from  the roadside, picked from the field or purchased  by the 
NGO AFVA ( Atacora Valliant Women's Association ) which supports a number of women by 
purchasing organic seed cotton.  These craftswomen receive no funding whatsoever and operate 
using their own resources. Their annual income is between CFAF 75,000 a nd 260,000.  WT/CFMC/W/85  
 
- 47 - 
 
  Figure  15: Cotton lint weavers (A: Female weavers; B: A woman displays cotton lint 
fabric)  
Photo A : Photo B : 
 
  
 
Figure 16: Padding made from cotton waste  
 
 
  
 
 
 
3.4.3   Platform to harness the value  of cotton stalks through p article board  
3.89.   The innovation platform for particle board is a physical and virtual forum that was established 
to encourage stakeholders in the particle board value chain to pool ideas and learn from each other. 
It comprises direct and indirect stakeholders.  
❖ Direct stakeholders  
3.90.   The direct stakeholders are as follows:  
- cotton growers ; 
- craftsmen and women ; 
- suppliers of equipment ; 
- transporters ; 
- suppliers of hardware ; 
- timber processors ; 
- consumers . 
❖ Indirect stakeholders  
3.91.   The indirect stakeholders are:  
- agricultural researchers ; 
- agricultural advisors ; 
- microfinance institutions ; 
- local authorities ; 
- media . 
WT/CFMC/W/85  
 
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  3.92.   The SWOT analysis on harnessing the value of cotton stalks by manufacturing par ticle board 
(VATICOPP project) is presented below ( Table  24). 
Table  24: SWOT as perceived by stakeholders in the particle board platform  
STRENGTHS  WEAKNESSES  
Availability of skilled labour , factory sites conducive 
to the commercial environment,  Absence of communication/publicity on particle board  
Proximity of the factory to Benin 's major 
cotton -producing areas  Small size of the board obtained  
Availability of raw material s Lack of staff  
Very good quality of board obtained  Lack of production materials and equipment  
Agronomic research centre i nvolvement in the project  Absence of a technical and economic analysis  of 
particle board  manufact uring 
OPPORTUNITIES  THREATS  
Availability of cotton stalks, availability of labour  Particle board of various types can be imported more 
cheaply  
Market in place  Low take-up of particle board  
Enhanced value for cotton growers  Absence of the binding materials used in the board 's 
manufacture  
Quality of furniture manufactured with the board is 
higher than that of imported furniture  Vagaries of the weather or natural disasters  
Fall in the number of cotton producers because of the 
low after -sales income  
Cotton producers ' low income  
 
3.93.   The study conducted by Kpadé et al. (2019) concludes, following an analysis of market 
demand , that the vast majority of consumers were willing to pay to use cotton -stalk particle board 
for several reasons (hardness, dirt resistance, good water -tightness, s trength). Demand and  
purchase prices have been determined . The consumers/users of particle board on the national 
market include entrepreneurs, economic operators, carpenters, and craftsmen and women. Analysis 
of the supply showed that the bulk of particle board sold on the national market is imported from 
China and Ghana. It is often sold in hardware outlets or shops that have customers with a range of 
socio-economic profiles. It follows from that study that there is indeed an opportunity to unlock  the 
value of cotton stalks by manufactur ing particle board. There is an end market and consumers are 
prepared to pay for particle board that has well defined physical and chemical properties.  
  
 
 
  
 
 
 
WT/CFMC/W/85  
 
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  3.4.4   Soap producers  
3.94.   During the study a total of 21 women soap producers were questioned from Banikoara (15), 
Kérou (5) and Péhunco (1). Their average age was 48 and the oldest was 70.  
3.95.   Some of them began production in December, some in January. Most of them (over 75%) 
began in January. There is no market ing channel for the stalks. However enormous quantities of 
them are used from January to March. During that period, cotton stalks are not sold but given to 
the women by family or friends. The stalks can also be obtained by negotiating with producers. The 
women can uproot them, which costs CFAF 10,000/ha at most.  
3.96.   Traditional materials are used to produce the soap. Nonetheless significant quantities are 
made (between 400 and 1 ,000 soap balls). Women working in pairs or groups of three or four use 
their own fu nds to produce the soap. There is no formal association for female soap-makers. As a 
result , they do not receive any outside support. Their activities are therefore unstructured.  
3.97.   The average sale price of a cake of soap is CFAF 150. However , the price doe s vary and can 
be as high as CFAF 300. The women's turnover is between CFAF 100,000 and CFAF 250,000.  
3.98.   All output is sold in the surrounding villages, at local markets in the cities, which are genuine 
potential markets, and to retailers or semi -wholesalers.  
3.99.   The stakeholders associated with this activity are:  
- the producers ; 
- consumers ; 
- the women engaged in the processing tasks.  
3.100.   The strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats as perceived by the women engaged 
in this activity are set out in  Table 25. 
Table 25: SWOT as perceived by women who make soap  
Strengths  Weaknesses  
Presence and availability of stalks  Difficul ty of grubbing up stalks in the fields  
Command of technology  Rudimentary technology  
Raw material is free  No means of transporting stalks  
Possibility of replacing cotton stalks with stalks of 
other plants  Poor return on activity  
End market in place Lack of training  
Willingness to process the stalks   
  Absence of access to credit, absence of modern 
means of processing  
Opportunities  Threats  
Workforce available  Strong competition from imported products  
Diversification of income streams for cotton growers  Stalks not available year -round  
Creation of new, local jobs for women  Decline in cotton production  due to climate change  
Opportunity to provide a structure to the activity and 
reorganize it    
Area with high cotton -stalk output but low usage 
rates    
 
❖ Brief description of the process of making soap from cotton stalks  
3.101.   The method used to make the soap is traditional. After burning, the cotton stalks are reduced 
to ash. Potash is extracted from the ash. The potash thus obtained is boiled at high temperature and 
shea butter (fatty material) is added. By process of saponification a pulp is obtained. This pulp is 
the soap. It is a traditional, highly prized, environmentally friendly soap.  WT/CFMC/W/85  
 
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  Figure 17: Manufacturing soap from co tton stalk ash (A: ash from burned cotton stalks; 
B: Pulp obtained from the mixture of ash and fatty material; C: Soap balls)  
Photo A : Photo B:  Photo C:  
 
  
  
 
 
3.4.5   Spinners: stakeholders in the textile sector  
3.102.   As stated above, close to 95% of lint is exported. There are only two spinning companies to 
process the lint. They are the Textile Industry Company  (SITEX) and the Beninese Textile Company 
(CBT). We met staff from CBT only.    
3.103.   January to May are the peak t imes for lint for CBT; each year during that period it receives 
between 2,700 and 3,000 tonnes of lint. This allows them to continue production year -round but is 
not sufficient to cover their needs. Average price per tonne is between CFAF 973,430 to 
CFAF 1,148,600 with modern technology.  
3.104.   The products' points of sale are Ghana, Côte d'Ivoire  and Cameroon, and the clients are all 
wholesalers, namely GTP (Ghana), Uniwax (CI) and CICAF (Cameroon).  
3.105.   The plant employs casual and permanent staff. The payroll show ed there were 13  women 
and 120  men.  
3.106.   The various stakeholders, their level of influence and the interest they expressed in 
developing by-products are set out in Error! Reference source not found. .  
Table  26: Stakeholders, level of influence and interest  
Stakeholders  Level of influence  Interest  
SBEE ( Beninese Electricity Company )  7 5 
Caisse Autonome d'Amortissement  (CAA)/ Beninese State  2 10 
Commercial bank  2 3 
Chinese State  5 10 
Town hall  5 5 
SODECO  9.5 1 
Clients  9.5 5 
 
3.107.   The findings of the analysis for this sector are set out in Table  27. 
 
WT/CFMC/W/85  
 
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  Table  27: Strengths , weaknesses, opportunities and threats as perceived by 
stakeholders in the spinning sector  
STRENGTHS  WEAKNESSES  
Young, skilled workforce available  Lack of product availability (lint year round)  
International end market available  High lint prices  
Spare parts available  Strong competition from imported fabrics  
Modern , operational factory  Unfair competition from used fabric  
Creation of thousands of jobs  Absence of state support  
Contribution to tax receipts to develop the country's 
economy  Limited supply of lint from SODECO  
Modern, up -to-date technology   - 
OPPORTUNITIES  THREATS  
Foothold to be gained in Beninese market  Subsidized cotton from China and other major 
countries  
Investment Code in place  Fall in international fabric prices  
Opportunity to gain a foothold in other markets  High level of imports of "used" clothing  
Favourable environment  Market dumping of poor quality product at lower 
prices  
Opportunity to adapt new technologies to those 
currently in place  No state policy to support and promote local fabrics  
Cheap Asian technology available for presses   - 
 
4  RANKING COTTON BY -PRODUCTS IN ORDER OF PRIORITY  
4.1.  Given the many cotton -derived products  and by-products and co -products of cotton referred 
to in this study, and in light of the aim to identify two products (or value chains) to promote through 
development a ctions, we have ranked the chains with development potential on the basis of 
producers' views.  
4.2.  Pair comparison, a tool used to determine priorities, was used to draw up the list. It consists 
of a paired comparison table where co -products or by -products are  listed as column and row 
headings. In the cell where the column and row intersect, the interviewees chose one of the paired 
by-products and explain ed the reasons for that choice. A tally was kept of the number of times each 
by-product was chosen and was used to draw up a ranking. The ranking identifies the priority 
co-products or by -products.      
4.3.  The first paired comparison of by-products from primary production and ginning was conducted 
with producers through a focus group and the table summarizing their  choices is shown in Table  28.  
4.4.  The number of times each by-product was selected was used to rank the by-products ( Error! 
Reference source not found. ). It is clear from the figure that seed and stalks are the by -products 
most favoured by the producers.  
Table  28: Ranking of ginning by -products and cotton stalks  
Co-products  Lint  Seed  Lint cleaner waste  Gin waste  Stalks  
Lint    S LCW G St 
Seed     S S S 
Lint cleaner waste      LCW St 
Gin waste      St 
Stalks        
 WT/CFMC/W/85  
 
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  Figure  18: Frequency of by-product choice in paired comparisons  
 
Source:  Data from cotton by -product surveys, 2019  
4.5.  The second level of classification was performed by comparing the by-products that the 
producers ranked higher in each pair in the first classification round. The results are shown in 
Figure  19; it is clear from the rankings that the producers' top three cotton -derived products and 
by-products were particle board (18.3%), oilcake (16.5%) and husks (14.7%). The aim was to 
identify two by -products for each country, therefore the two by -products identified for Benin 
are cotton stalks, which can be used for particle board, compost, soap, fuel briquettes , 
etc.; and oilcake from crushing seed, which can b e used to make animal feed.  
Figure  19: Frequency of selection of cotton by-products and cotton -derived products  
 
Source:  Data from cotton by-product surveys, 2019  
0.05.010.015.020.025.030.035.040.045.0
Lint Seed Lint cleaner
wasteGin motes StalksFrequency (%)
0.02.04.06.08.010.012.014.016.018.020.0Frequency (%)
Cottonseed -and cotton -stalk -derived products and by -productsWT/CFMC/W/85  
 
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  5  CONCLUSION  
5.1.  Cotton by-products have considerable potential and offer Benin a host of opportunities , but 
unlocking their value  is a challenge for the country . 
5.2.  There are a number of value chains that offer economic opportunities waiting to be seized that 
can add value  and create permanent employment  and spin-offs for the country through  an improved 
trade balance and increased exports.  
5.3.  This benchmark study is a first stage in drawing up strategies to unlock the value of cotton 's 
potential and aims to provide baseline informa tion on cotton processing in Benin .  
5.4.  Analysis of the data collected leads to several findings. The review of the history of cotton 
industry development brings to light the total absence of any policies to unlock the value of cotton 
by-products and co -produ cts. Lint used to be the main and only export product and it was the focus 
of all measures from the 1960s until the arrival of the cottonseed  factories . Currently, leaving aside 
lint and seed (which are marketed), cotton's other by-products and co -products  have attracted little 
attention from policy -makers.  
5.5.  Analysis of the baseline was conducted in  respect of  three of the industry 's sub-sectors and the 
salient points where the value chains in the industry are concerned are set out below.   
5.6.  In the cotton pri mary production subsector:  
❖ Among the cotton by-products in the field, seed cotton is currently the only economically 
important product for producers; they sell it directly to ginning companies.  
❖ Very little value is afforde d to other by-products (cotton sta lks, leaves).  
❖ Most producers throw away or burn the cotton stalks and regard them generally as 
economically worthless.  
❖ A very small proportion of producers uses stalks to boost soil fertility (work them into the 
soil or use fields as cattle pens), as fuel wood  or building material or to manufacture soap . 
❖ The vast majority of producers are unaware of the processing opportunities for stalks (e.g. 
how they can be used to manufacture particle board and marketable fuel briquettes ).    
❖ There is a complete absence of any institutional structure around cotton by-product  value 
chains . 
5.7.  In the ginning sector  
❖ The ginning subsector supplies four by-products: lint (42.5% ), cottonseed  (52.5%), lint 
cleaner waste (0.005% ) and non -marketable waste (or gin motes ) (0.045 %). 
❖ The lint and lint  cleaner waste  are the products of greatest significance to the ginning 
companies , and indeed the country , because they are almost all exported.  
❖ Local people play a very minor  role in unlocking the value of these by-products (lint and lint 
cleaner waste ) because  they are sent for export.  
❖ Cottonseed  is transferred in the main to cottonseed  factories and a share is also exported.  
❖ Very little value is unlocked from the gin motes or non -tradable waste despite the scope for 
using them, after sorting, in the manufacture of mattresses, animal feed, substances to 
enhance soil fertility in arable farming , etc.  
5.8.  In the milling subsector  
❖ There are two industrial seed oil outfits and almost all the oil and oilcake they produce is 
exported.  
❖ Spectacular growth in seed cotton output in the last three seasons  has led to so much 
cottonseed  that the two major oil and oilcake production factories have been  working at 
capacity.  
 WT/CFMC/W/85  
 
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  5.9.  Based on the current usage of by-products and the  limits of the various intervention measures, 
the following action plan has been formulated with a view to addressing shortcomings and paving 
the way for sustainable use of the opportunities offered by cotton by -products. This means:  
❖ Promoting studies on t he technological options available for unlocking the value of the 
by-products;  
❖ Developing alternative methods for unlocking value;  
❖ Evaluating the socioeconomic aspects of technological options for unlocking the value of 
by-products;  
❖ Building stakeholder ca pacity vis-à-vis the technological options ; 
❖ Stepping up awareness -raising among producers and potential users;  
❖ Coordinating initiatives.  
 
 
  WT/CFMC/W/85  
 
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  BIBLIOGRAPHY  
BRMN (2018),  'Dossier coton: L 'industrie de la confection: Une valeur ajoutée à l 'exportation ', Revue 
semestrielle du Bureau de Restructuration et de Mise à Niveau du Bénin N o. 010, December  2018.  
 
Yannou B.  (2011), 'Comparaison par paires ', Déployer l 'innovation: Méthodes, outils, pilotage et cas 
d'étude , Les fiches pratiques - Edition  2011-20-12 - Génie Industriel, eds. Paris: Techniques de 
L'Ingénieur, ISBN 978 -2-85059 -129-7, pp. 381 -387. 
 
Matthess, A., Van den Akker, E., Chougourou, D. & Midingoyi , S. (2005) , Compétitivité et durabilité 
de cinq systèmes culturaux cotonniers dans le cadre de la filière , GTZ-MAEP.  
 
Kpade P. C., H ougni  A. & Sonogo  O. (2019) , Valorisation des tiges de cotonnier dans la chaîne de 
valeur de panneaux de particules en Afrique de l 'Ouest , Tropicultura, volume 37, pp 1 -7. 
 
  WT/CFMC/W/85  
 
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  LIST OF SOME OF THE CONTRIBUTORS  
No. SURNAME AND FIRST  NAME  ENTITY  POST/ FUNCTION  CONTACT   
1 ADJAGBETO Philippe  SHB Industry manager   65 264 654 
2 ISSIAKOU Ganiou  FLUDOR  Consultant and 
former head of 
cottonseed  supply 
service  66 022 487/ 
95 429 038 
3 LEGBA  FLUDOR  Deputy 
Director -General  95 960 890  
4 HOUGBO Euloge  WTO/Min . Industry  and 
Trade  Integrated 
Framework    
5 SOGNI  WTO/Min . Industry and 
Trade  EIF staff/ Head of 
value chains   
6 ISSIAKA Abdoulaye  VATTICOP  Treasurer  97 745 261 
7 ARAYE Eric  VATTICOP  Platform stakeholder    
8 BATA Mohamé Kouba  UCOPER  Team leader  95 443 455 
9 TAMA Elise  AFVA-NGO 
(organic cotton 
production)  Coordinator  95 744 121 
10 ROUGA BANI Sambo  UCOPER  Peulh chief/TG  94 540 278 
11 BIO ALI Sabi Goré  UComCVPC  Executive officer 96 651 695 
12 DJOBO Seydou  UCOPER  Storekeeper  94 470 651 
13 ABDOULAYE Moussa  CVPC/Kokey  Former SG  64 394 257 
14 BIO OROU Gani  Association of Weavers 
of Gah Gourou  President  - 
15 CODJO HOUNON Wilfrid  SODECO  RAU 61 480 157 
16 ABOU Zerma  Mattresses Association  Mattress officer 94 772 576 
17 ABOU Mouhamadou  PTRANS -BENIN  President of 
transporters  67 088 888 
18 KORA YERIMA Kora  UComCVPC  General Secretary  61 934 967 
19 YAMOUSSA Adamou  UCOPER  General Secretary  65 397 357 
20 KAMILLE Orou  UCPC  President  96 672 135 
21 NASSIMETO Honore  SODECO  Head of ginnery , 
Kandi  95 819 792 
22 YABI Mamadou  SODECO  Head of ginnery , 
Pehunco  95 287 653 
23 EKLOU Idelphonse  SODECO  Staff representative, 
Kerou  95 740 406 
24 SAVI Omer  SODECO  Head of ginnery , 
Bohicon  66 496 149 
25 DOVONOU Patrice  SODECO  Avogbana  95 469 414 
26 TEKAN Germain  SODECO  Hagoumey  97 716 584 
27 YAKPON Pierre  SODECO  Head of ginnery  
Parakou  3 62 854 567 
28 HOUESSOU  Jean-Albert  SODECO  Head of ginnery , 
N"dali 94 614 045 
29 WOROU Adeyemi  SODECO  Head of ginnery  
Parakou  1 and  2 97 360 981 
30 AGBOZOGNIGBE Henri  SODECO  Head of ginnery  
Savalou/  
Zouzonkamey    
31 FADEGNON Blaise  MAEP/ATDA 2  Cotton programme 
director  64 069 602 
32   SODECO  Head of ginnery , 
Savalou Centre  97 844 878 
33 BODJENOU  SODECO  Head of ginnery , 
Savalou Glazoué  97 639 200/ 
95 188 404 
34 Secretary  UCOPER  Kandi  - 
35 Mr OUMAROU Ibrahim  ANOPER  General 
Secretary/Kandi  96 858 494 
36 Mr FAROUCK  APESS representative  Kandi  66 091 711 
37 AMADOU Issa  Association of 
Stockfarmers  President/Sonsoro  97 045 140 
38 AGBALEY Raymond Bernard  SODECO  Head of 
ginnery /Kandi  60 600 842 WT/CFMC/W/85  
 
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  No. SURNAME AND FIRST  NAME  ENTITY  POST/ FUNCTION  CONTACT   
39 DAKO Eustache  SODECO  Shift 
supervisor/Kandi  94 905 058 
40 AGONKAN Franc Hervé  SODECO  Head of 
manufacturing/Kandi  95 432 386 
41 SEFOU Imorou  CVPC  Officer responsible 
for producers/  
Angaradebou  64 757 254 
42 TAMOU Yaya  CVPC  Officer responsible 
for producers/  
Donwari  95 351 452 
43 ALI Wahabou  CVPC  Officer responsible 
for producers/  
Bensekou  94 372 002 
 
__________