Welcome to the Nigerian Cotton Value Chain

You are welcome to The Nigerian Cotton Value Chain blog. This blog will enable both intending and current cotton farmers get updates on the current cotton production trends, supply, marketing and new policies affecting the entire Nigerian cotton value chain. 
It will enable access to information on the ongoing development of Bt cotton in Nigeria by the institutes involved which are: Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD), National Agricultural Seeds Council (NASC), Nigerian Agricultural Quarantine Services (NAQS), National Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA), Institute for Agricultural Research, Ahmadu Bello University Zaria (IAR/ABU), Monsanto International, Arewa Cotton, WACOT Limited, Nigeria Textile Manufacturers Association (NTMA), National Cotton Association of Nigeria (NACOTAN), National agricultural Extension Research Liaison Services (NAERLS). 

Cotton Production in Nigeria

Cotton development commenced in Nigeria in 1903. The first commercial production was in 1939/40 when 47,270 bales were exported. Production peaked in 1969/1970 at 503,640 bales. A major decline in quantity and quality set in following the abolition of the Cotton Marketing Board (CMB) in 1986. The CMB was a monopoly which provided support to cotton development and marketing. Since the dissolution of the CMB, no organized system for the development and marketing of cotton has emerged. Consequently, production and quality deteriorated. In 1997/1998 production was recorded as 110,395 bales which was only 22% of Nigerian lint production in 1969/1970. However, decline in quantity and quality continued and by 2001/2002, Nigerian cotton was declared by the International Cotton Testing Association as the most contaminated in the world and without international market grade. While the production of cotton declined, the ginning capacity increased to over 60 ginneries of which about 35 are less than 10 years old. As a result of deficient supply, processors/merchants resulted into importation of seed cotton from the neighboring francophone countries of Benin, Togo, Niger, and Cameroon. This uncontrolled importation created problems of variety mixture with attendant introduction of diseases and pests that had persistently contributed to the poor quality of Nigerian cotton.

Cotton Producing States  

The country has three distinct agronomic zones for cotton production. These include the Northern and Southern Cotton Zones with diffusion into Central part as follows:

 In Northern Zone: Katsina, Kaduna, Zamfara, Kano, Jigawa, Bauchi, Gombe, Yobe, Borno, Taraba, Kebbi, Sokoto and Adamawa States.

 In Southern Zone:, Ogun, Ondo Ekiti, Osun, Edo and Oyo States.

1. In Central Zone: Niger, Kogi Plateau Nasarawa, Kwara & FCT

MAP OF NIGERIA INDICATING COTTON PRODUCING STATES

Varieties

There are six (6) varieties developed by the Institute for Agricultural Research (IAR) which are;

1. Samcot-8                                                           North East Zone
2. Samcot-9                                                           North West Zone
3. Samcot-10                                                         North Central Zone
4. Samcot -11(Long Staple)                                  South West Zone
5. Samcot-12(Long Staple/Irrigated)                    North West Zone
6. Samcot-13(Long Staple/Irrigated)                    North East Zone

     

Factors affecting cotton production in Nigeria

• Contamination: Cotton is primarily  contaminated during harvest, this happens when polybag otherwise known as Polypropylene is used to collect the seed cotton after picking. This problem has literally been defeated by the distribution of cotton harvest sacks/bags by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development for free under the Growth Enhancement Support Programme (GES).

The picture showing a typical cotton harvest sack distributed to farmers for free by the Cotton Value Chain from Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

• Infestation insects which may be classified into sap sucking insects (Aphids, Jassids and White fly) or chewing insects (Bollworms, leaf eating caterpillars etc.) cause serious destruction to the cotton plants' squares, bolls, leaves, and fiber resulting in a monetary loss to the cotton grower. Insects that cause loss to the fruits are frequently more destructive than those that damage leaves, stems, and roots. The Cotton Bollworm complex, Helicoverpa armigera, Diparopsis watersi, Pectinophora gosspiella, Cryptophlebia leucotreta, Earias biplaga, and Earias insulana cause the greatest amount of yield losses in Nigeria.  In conventionally grown cotton, insecticides are used for the control of insect pests. To reduce pesticide usage in cotton, several strategies like use of genetic engineering tools to confer resistance to insect pests (Bt Cotton), Integrated Pest Management (IPM), and Insecticide Resistance Management (IRM) are advocated.  In recent times, Bt cotton technology has been found to be one of the best strategies to manage bollworms.

The 2014 world cotton production rating by ICAC 

Production Ranking By 2014 (000) 480-pound bales
Country	Ranking	Production		Total Supply		Exports
China, Peoples Republic of	1st	30,000		100,957		75
India	2nd	29,500		42,265		4,000
United States	3rd	16,319		18,781		11,000
Pakistan	4th	10,600		13,875		550
Brazil	5th	7,000		14,693		3,900
Uzbekistan, Republic of	6th	3,900		5,148		2,250
Turkey	7th	3,200		8,207		250
Australia	8th	2,300		4,107		2,900
Turkmenistan	9th	1,525		2,724		900
Mexico	10th	1,366		2,775		160
Burkina	11th	1,330		1,585		1,175
Greece	12th	1,286		1,630		1,150
Argentina	13th	1,080		2,322		400
Mali	14th	1,060		1,331		700
Burma	15th	895		1,169		5
Cote d'Ivoire	16th	840		1,150		800
Benin	17th	700		1,003		625
Cameroon	18th	530		670		475
Egypt	16th	525		1,064		150
Tajikistan, Republic of	20th	400		681		375
Tanzania, United Republic of	21st	375		784		180
Spain	22nd	331		390		320
Syria	23rd	300		469		175
Iran	24th	300		730		20
Kazakhstan, Republic of	25th	240		423		160
Chad	26th	220		255		190
Togo	27th	200		242		175
Nigeria	28th	200		349		50
Zimbabwe	29th	180		434		200
Ethiopia	30th	175		228		5
Mozambique	31st	170		280		140

Ginning is a process of separating the cotton lint from the seed before spinning if the factory is intending to spin or packed into bales for either export or to sell to the spinning factories in the country. Saw gin is predominant in the country. Though the total number of ginneries is about 51, however, due to reduction in production and obsolete equipment, the number of active ginneries has reduced to 26. The national average output is maintained between 150,000MT to 300,000MT. But, the cotton ginning capacity of Nigeria is 650,000MT. The ginning out turn ratio increased from 36% to 43% in the 2003-2008 and this increase is reported to be mainly due to the introduction of a new variety.  

	Quick Facts
1.	Number of Ginneries	51
2.	Number of Ginneries Operational	26
3.	Ginning Capacity	650 000 T
4.	Ginning Capacity Utilization	33%
5.	Ginning Technology	Saw Gin
6.	Ginning Out Turn (GOT)	38%

LIST OF FUNCTIONAL GINNERIES AND LOCATIONS: S/N GINNERIES LOCATION 1 West African Cotton Company (WACOT) Ginnery  Funtua and Gombe 2 Dangote Ginnery  Kankara Katsina State 3 Cotton and Agricultural Processors (CAP) Zaria, Kaduna State 4 Beto Ginnery Mararaba Katsina State 5 Cotton Ginning Company Ginnery Kankara Katsina State 6 Funtua Textile Ginnery Funtua Katsina State 7 Sunagro Ginnery Funtua Katsin a State 8 ABJ Ginnery Funtua Katsina State 9 Inta Ginnery Gusau Zamfara State 10 Mallaha Ginnery Gusau Zamfara State 11 Dan Maikyau Ginnery Gusau Zamfara State 12 Maiyanchi Ginnery Gusau Zamfara State 13 GAPP Ginnery Gusau Zamfara State 14 Niima Ginnery Gusau Zamfara State 15 Rikiji Ginnery Gusau Zamfara State 16 Arewa Cotton Ginery Wawa, Niger State 17 South West NACOTAN Ginnery  Abeokuta Ogun State 18 AAD Ginnery Gusau Zamfara State 19 Dala Ginnery Kano State 20 White Gold Ginnery Kano State 21 Makama Ginnery Kano State 22 Zamtex 1 Gusau Zamfara State 23 Zamtex 2 Gusau Zamfara State 24 Zamtex 3 Gusau Zamfara State 25 Zamtex 4 Gusau Zamfara State 26 Abbasco Ginnery Kebbi State

Products obtainable from cotton

•  Cotton Seed: Its products and investment in areas of Cake and Meal (usage as flour for bread, cake and crackers; feed for livestock and fertilizer); Crude oil (refined oil for salad, cooking oil, mayonnaise, salad dressing, margarine, packing oil-sardines); fords (soap making, glycerine (explosives, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics) and fatty acids;
• Hulls have usages as feed for livestock, fertilizer-mulch & soil conditioner, bran, fibre and furfural;
• Linters –usages as pulp, (viscose, cellulose, etc), absorbent cotton, medical supplies, yarns and felt (mattresses, cushions, pads, automotive upholstery, etc)

The present administration under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari GCFR mandated the ministry of agriculture to conform a committee on the Resuscitation of the Cotton, Text and Garment industry. The has however completed their report.

Below is the list of operational textile factories in Nigeria.

1. Angel Spinning & Dyeing Ltd.
2. Nichemetex
3. African Textile Mfrs. Ltd.
4. Adhama Text. & Garment Ind. Ltd.
5. Chellco Industries Ltd.
6. Dangote Agrosacks Ltd.
7. Funtua Textiles Ltd.
8. Haffar Industries Co Ltd
9. Holborn (Nigeria) Ltd.
10. Lakhi Textile Industries Ltd.
11. Lucky Fibres Nig. Ltd.
12. Nigerian Nag Mfg. Co. Ltd
13. Nigerian Ropes Plc
14. Nigerian Spinners & Dyers Ltd.
15. Northern Bag Mfg. Ltd.
16. Rosies Textile Mills Ltd.
17. Ruthstar Ltd.
18. Spintex Mills (Nig.) Ltd.
19. Stallion Textile Industries Ltd.
20. Sunflag Nigeria Ltd.
21. Crown Natures Nig. Ltd.
22. Terytex (Nig.) Ltd.
23. Tofa Textiles  Ltd
24. Unitex
25. Woollen & Synthetic Industries Ltd.
26. Zaria Industries Ltd
27. ITI (Nigeria) Ltd.
28. Femro 3 Nigeria Ltd.
29. Marklint Medical Complex Ltd.
30. MDV (Nig) Ltd.
31. Zamfara Textiles Mill Ind. Ltd.
32. Supertex Limited Kaduna
33. Nigeria Braiding Co. Ltd
34. Arewa Textiles Ltd.