Climate crisis complicates Africa's textile ambitions
Erratic rainfall is a growing threat to cotton production, the foundation of the textiles value chain in Africa.
The growing concern over climate change's impact on Africa's textile ambitions has been a topic of debate for some time. Economists argue that the continent must build a thriving textiles industry to create jobs and stimulate industrial growth, following the path of south and east Asia. Eswatini, Lesotho, Madagascar, Mauritius, Benin, Burkina Faso, Chad, and Mali are among the top African producers, but cotton-growing countries outnumber any other continent, with 37 African nations growing cotton.
However, climate change presents a severe and growing challenge for smallholder cotton production in sub-Saharan Africa. The lack of suitable irrigation methods in rain-fed agriculture makes small-scale farmers particularly vulnerable to changing weather patterns. Alexandra Perschau, head of cotton standards at the non-profit Aid by Trade Foundation, highlights that climate change and shifting rainfall patterns are causing pest behavior changes, increasing the risk of devastating infestations.
Research commissioned by the Cotton 2040 initiative predicts that by 2040, half of the world's cotton-growing regions will face severe threats due to rising temperatures, shifting rainfall patterns, and growing water scarcity. The growing season in Mali, Senegal, Burkina Faso, and Ghana may become shorter due to temperature extremes, while droughts in the Sahel belt will pose significant hazards.
Egypt and Sudan are expected to receive less rainfall, making rain-fed cotton production unviable. Conversely, parts of Africa, including coastal regions, may experience increased rainfall, leading to waterlogged soils that damage cotton production.
Kai Hughes, then-executive director of the International Cotton Advisory Council, criticized the sector for being "unprepared for the climate crisis," noting that pre-existing vulnerabilities and inequalities in the supply chains are likely to be intensified and accelerated. To address the issue, artificial methods of storing and utilizing water have been proposed.
However, there is a debate on whether irrigation is the answer, with the Aid by Trade Foundation's Cotton made in Africa certification scheme prohibiting artificial irrigation due to its high energy costs, aquifer depletion, and soil salinization. Instead, the foundation advocates for sustainable practices like using biochar and cover cropping to improve soil health and reduce water evaporation.
Written by urgent.news from Africa Business's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — it may contain errors, so check the original before relying on it.
