US NGO Textile Exchange organised the first Regional Organic Cotton Round Table (OCRT) for West Africa in Koudougou. Attended by over 100 participants, the meeting included a large number of producers from across the region as well as representatives from governments, NGOs, ginners, traders, manufacturers, brands, and exporters. It was held in collaboration with Catholic Relief Services (CRS) and USDA during the Salon International du Cotton et du Textiles (SICOT).

A key focal point was a new report by Change Agency for Textile Exchange. Based on key interviews with local industry stakeholders, the report dwelt on the potential for Burkina Faso to develop into a major African hub for organic cotton.

The report concluded that Burkina Faso has an excellent opportunity to grow its organic cotton sector, given more collaboration and a concerted effort to bring more value-adding into the continent rather than exporting raw cotton. The country is second only to Tanzania as a producer of organic cotton in Africa. This gives the country the opportunity to act as a hub for regional development, providing the raw material for the development of cotton ginning, mills and other facilities.

Burkina Faso’s organic cotton has demand from three places: global brands, regional demand from neighbours, and domestic demand.