Cotton production in Nigeria has fallen. Among the reasons for this fall are: absence of improved seeds, pest infestation, price fluctuation, and a dearth of ginneries and textile mills. The cotton industry in Nigeria used to be very viable, employing a large number of people.

But this became history right from the 1990s. The capacity utilization which was more than 63 per cent dipped considerably. The number of textile mills dropped. The entire industry has virtually become moribund. Production of cotton in Nigeria is dominated by small scale farmers.

Now efforts are being made to develop improved seeds for farmers to increase productivity, in addition to the development of Bt cotton, a genetically modified, pest resistant plant cotton variety that will increase yield. Bt cotton is expected to be made available for farmers in the next planting season.

The expectation is if farmers have access to Bt cotton, the issue of pest infestation and low yield will become a thing of the past, thereby boosting activities in the entire value chain. Farmers are also looking for viable markets. They say allowing foreign markets to determine the price of the produce has helped in killing the cotton industry in the country.