Cameroon cotton farmers boost yields with seed and soil health
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In Cameroon’s North Region, cotton farmers are improving their harvests by combining improved seed with traditional, nature-based farming methods.
Akoura Sarki, a seed multiplier in Pitoa, grows certified R1 seed for distribution to other cotton growers. He has farmed cotton for over four decades and is one of approximately 160,000 farmers who contribute to Cameroon’s annual production of 250,721 tonnes of seed cotton. Farmers like Sarki are also integrating trees and soil conservation techniques into their fields.
For example, Haman Bello grows cotton alongside Faidherbia albida trees, which shed leaves that enrich the soil and allow sunlight to reach the crop. Bello also plants rows across slopes to slow water runoff and improve soil moisture. These agroecological practices help farmers adapt to climate change and reduce their reliance on chemical fertilizers. Cameroon ranks as the fifth-largest cotton producer in Africa.
SODECOTON, the Cameroon Cotton Development Authority, reports that cotton yields in planted areas have increased more than fourfold, and seed cotton production has risen by 13.5 percent. Despite these gains, farmers note that the price they receive for their cotton has not kept pace with the rising cost of inputs like seed and fertilizer, impacting their overall income.
