Challenges in Cotton Production, Quality, and Future Aspects

Ethiopia is fortunate to have a cotton-growing nation, sufficient irrigation water, and laborers to work in the cotton-producing sector. Traditional weaving, the establishment of spinning mills, integrated industrial parks, the widespread availability of affordable electricity, and the improvement of market access for cotton marketing and textile items are all important elements for cotton development in this country. Despite efforts to ensure the supply of cotton, which serves as the main resource for the strategic crop and the textile sector, it is becoming increasingly challenging to meet the growing demand for cotton in terms of quantity and quality. Another major issue is that the facilities for cotton research that may enhance the sector’s growth and competitiveness are understaffed, underfunded, and unable to develop in line with the regional environment. In general, problems with cotton output are harming the nation's cotton-textile industry’s ability to survive. The potential for the cotton sector to contribute to the nation's economy is limited by a number of difficulties in meeting local demand and competing on the global market. According to the review conducted, there is a lack of sufficient research and development activities in the cotton sector, poor actor integration within the value chain, limited loan access, inadequate government support, weak strategic implementation, and absence of appropriate strategic planning for cotton escort development are the main ones. To support the cotton industry going forward, the strategies should consider the components of the support package for cotton producers, the arrangement of policy framework to effectively connect the value actors along the value chain, the enhancement of cotton's research and development (R&D) activity, and the creation of favorable conditions to attract substantial foreign direct investment (FDI) to the cotton production along with the value chain industries.