Benin harvested a prodigious harvest of 637,063.51 tons of seed cotton on 535,579 hectares, reaching an average yield of 1,190 kg/ha during the recently completed 2024-2025 cotton campaign.

Benin is considered through this feat as the first African producer of white gold, a title that it defends with resolute ambition. That of crossing the million tons mark by 2026, with a target yield between 1,300 and 1,500 kg/ha. The 637,063.51 tons harvested, a continental record, reflect a meticulous organization orchestrated by the National Federation of Village Cotton Producers Cooperatives (Fn-Cvpc). This institution, a hub of the sector, mobilized actors through a national tour launched on May 27, 2025, aimed at evaluating performance in the country's cotton strongholds. In Parakou, production jumped from 116,973.23 tons in 2023-2024 to 126,051.91 tons this year, an increase of more than 9,000 tons that illustrates the vitality of the

This success is based on a bold strategy, rigorous seed forecasting, optimized input distribution, and resilience in the face of unpredictable weather conditions. According to an Fn-Cvpc official, “we have transformed challenges into opportunities

Benin, which took first place in Africa from Mali in 2019, is consolidating its lead against its neighbors in West Africa. Mali, with 390,000 tonnes in 2023—24, and Burkina Faso, with 411,969 tonnes, gave way, while Cameroon, with 394,090 tonnes in 2023-2024, rose to third place thanks to an exceptional yield of 1,631

On June 2, 2025, Benin celebrated a cotton campaign that goes beyond simple numbers. The 637,063.51 tonnes harvested are the result of collective ambition, informed governance and resilience in the face of climate and economic hazards. In Parakou, Banikoara or Savè, producers, supported by a structured sector and agroecological innovations, are paving the way for a future in which cotton remains the pulse of the rural economy