Nigeria’s cotton exports have been on the decline since 2016. This was mainly due to lack of supportive policies and critical infrastructure for growth of the sector. The overall performance of the industry has been in crisis. As per the International Trade Centre(ITC)’s Trade Map Nigeria exported cotton worth $7,037,000 in 2018 which dropped to $5,597,000 in 2020. Most cotton grown in Nigeria is done by smallholder farmers, each with less than 10 hectares land. Since 2016, Portugal has been the largest importer of cotton from Nigeria. Pakistan imported no cotton from Nigeria in 2016 and 2017. Vietnam imported no cotton from Nigeria in 2016 and 2018.

Right now, Benin, Burkina Faso, Chad and Mali, are Africa’s four major cotton-producing countries. West Africa is the world’s sixth largest cotton producing region, with Benin, Côte d’Ivoire and Burkina Faso some of the largest cotton producing countries. Establishing a garment supply chain in the region can boost the industry’s value by as much as 600 per cent. This would involve building capacity along the entire supply chain: spinning cotton into yarn, weaving yarn into fabric, and dyeing, printing and designing finished clothing. To this end, efforts are being made to bolster the supply chain and increase processing capabilities across West Africa.

Cotton is a commercial crop grown mainly for its fiber or lint and is commonly used in the textile industry. The cash crop generates income and welfare for over 250 million farmers across the globe.