COTTON HARVEST NUMBERS RELEASED AND ENDOSULFAN BANNED

UNCLAS COTONOU 000105

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR AF/W (DBANKS) AND AF/EPS (THASTINGS)
DEPT PLEASE PASS USTR (LAGAMA)
DAKAR FOR FAS (HANSON)
ACCRA FOR REO (JHUNT)
PARIS FOR D'ELIA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAGR ECON PGOV BN
SUBJECT: COTTON HARVEST NUMBERS RELEASED AND ENDOSULFAN BANNED

REF: 07 COTONOU 810


1. SUMMARY: Benin's Cotton Stakeholders Association (AIC) estimates
the mid-season 2007-2008 cotton harvest at 182,567 metric tons,
accounting for about 65 percent of the estimated total production
(Reftel). In other cotton news the GOB, citing environmental and
health concerns, banned the import and the use of the cotton
pesticide known as endosulfan and ordered it replaced by tihan. End
Summary.

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Mid-Season Cotton Production Estimate
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2. According to the AIC, as of January 20, 2008, Benin's cotton
harvest amounted to 182,567 metric tons. The AIC's 2007-2008
expected total production is 280,911 metric tons (Reftel) The AIC
expects the remaining 98,344 metric tons which remain to arrive in
the ginning factories by early March 2008. Instead of the 257,627
hectares of cotton originally projected for cultivation 233,633
hectares were actually planted, according to the AIC. This decrease
in cultivated land is in part due to heavy rainfall in late 2007
which washed away approximately 6,400 hectares of land normally used
to produce cotton.

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Endosulfan Banned
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3. On February 6, 2008, the GOB decided to ban the import and the
use of endosulfan, a pesticide for cotton plantation treatment, for
future agricultural campaigns with an exception for the 2008-2009
campaign. Tihan is the new pesticide the GOB chose to replace
endosulfan. The GOB stated it banned the import of endosulfan
because it is dangerous and harmful to health and the environment.
An AIC source explained that Endosulfan has a high level of toxicity
and, according to him, caused the death of a number of cotton
farmers. Further health problems arose when farmers used endosulfan
on their food crops. The AIC source added that endosulfan keeps
away reptiles, rats, and other animals, which upsets the
environmental balance.


5. The GOB has authorized the one-time, simultaneous, use of
endosulfan and tihan for the 2008-2009 campaign for largely economic
reasons. 576,000 liters of endosulfan are still in stock and the GOB
does not want importers who already bought endosulfan to lose money
they have already spent as a result of the ban.


6. Comment: Cotton production in Benin is back on track. Though the
GOB target of 400,000 metric tons will not be met, it is important
to underline that this year's estimated production will increase by
almost 15 percent compared to the last campaign. The replacement of
endosulfan by tihan may impact this optimism. Cotton farmers' lack
of familiarity with the proper utilization of a new pesticide and
the reluctance of farmers to use a product they are not familiar
with may constitute an obstacle for the 2008-2009 cotton campaign.
End Comment.

BROWN