Cameroon’s society for the development of cotton, Sodecoton (Société de development du coton) is planning to increase the country’s annual cotton production to 600,000 tons by 2025. This was revealed during the sixth edition of Yaoundé international agribusiness fair held earlier this month in the capital city. Cameroon produced 320,000 tons in 2018-19. To reach the ambitious target, Sodecoton plans to develop high-yielding seed varieties, instead of the earlier planned introduction of genetically modified (GM) crops, Sodecoton managing director MohamadouBayeroBounou said during the fair, Cameroonian media reports said.

Along with its research partners, mainly CIRAD and IRAD, Sodecoton has developed conventional cotton varieties that provide yield up to 3.5 tons per hectare. These seeds are not genetically modified. A cautious insecticide treatment programme would help in better management and obtain better yields, Bounou said.