Nigeria is turning to Brazil’s agricultural expertise in a bid to revive its stagnant cotton sector and support the long-term growth of its textile industry.
During President Bola Tinubu’s state visit to Brazil on August 25, the two countries signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on science, technology, and innovation. Nigeria’s Minister of Innovation, Science, and Technology, Uche Geoffrey Nnaji, announced on August 28 that the agreement will facilitate biotechnology cooperation and agricultural technology transfer, with a strong focus on cotton production.
Leveraging Brazil’s Expertise
The collaboration will see Nigeria adopt Brazilian know-how in crop cycle optimization, pest resistance, and seed performance trials. Research data from the Brazilian Cotton Growers Association (ABRAPA) will also be shared with Nigerian institutions, including NABDA, NASRDA, and ECN, to strengthen local adaptation and innovation.
Brazil, the world’s third-largest cotton producer after India and China, is expected to produce 3.7 million tonnes in 2024/2025, with 99% of its output based on GMO crops.
Nigeria’s Stagnant Cotton Output
Despite adopting GMO cotton in 2018, Nigeria’s productivity has remained stagnant for over a decade. According to the National Agricultural Extension and Research Liaison Service (NAERLS), seed cotton production stood at 303,000 tonnes in 2008, nearly unchanged at 304,000 tonnes in 2024.
This stagnation poses a major challenge for the government’s ambition to revive Nigeria’s textile industry, which depends heavily on local cotton supply.
Demand from New Textile Investments
Recent industrial investments underline the urgency of boosting production. In July, Ogun State partnered with Arise IIP, a pan-African industrial park developer, on a $2 billion garment factory project with a projected capacity of 4.4 million garments per day. Earlier in April, the government also announced plans to establish a dedicated regulatory body for the textile industry.
Cotton-Producing Regions
Nigeria’s cotton production is concentrated in the northern states of Katsina, Bauchi, Kano, Sokoto, Kaduna, and Kebbi. Strengthening yields in these regions will be essential if Nigeria is to meet rising domestic demand and reduce reliance on imports.
