New Ivorian cotton has arrived. Two new cotton varieties have been developed to enhance cotton grown in Ivory Coast, a cotton that has fallen outside the standards in recent years.
They are called CI 123 and CI 128 and carry all the hopes of the Ivorian cotton sector. These code names are those of two varieties developed by the National Center for Agricultural Research, and in recent years, researchers have been called to the rescue to correct a crop that has been avoided by some buyers.
It was the association of cotton companies in the country that summed it up last week in a press conference: “the fiber had lost some of its properties and no longer corresponded to the international demand”.
Cotton that is no longer white enough
If the sector has managed to increase its production in recent years – the country is the third largest producer in Africa – quality has long been declining. “There has been a slow deterioration,” explains one trader. So much so that some spinners will no longer want to hear about Ivorian cotton ”.
In the question, “a problem with the cleanliness and lengths of fibers”, our interlocutor explains. “Ivorian cotton painfully reaches 27 mm in length, describes another expert, while the standard is 28 mm”. Also indexed. Ivorian white gold is no longer so white, it is often spotted, unlike what is grown on the other side of borders. In the end, it is the prices that suffer with a deficit for the entire cotton sector.
Goals, regain buyer confidence
Yet the Ivory Coast was the benchmark in West Africa 20 years ago with high-quality cotton, and the new seeds were to allow the country to rebuild its reputation as genetic factors determine quality. “But it will take time to regain trust,” explains our dealer, “international buyers will have to test the quality and its stability over time, which can take a few years.”
.
