VZCZCXRO8617
RR RUEHMA RUEHPA
DE RUEHCO #0105 0451158
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 141158Z FEB 08
FM AMEMBASSY COTONOU
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0178
INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE
RUEHDK/AMEMBASSY DAKAR 1423
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 1237
RUEHRC/DEPT OF AGRICULTURE WASHDC

UNCLAS COTONOU 000105 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR AF/W (DBANKS) AND AF/EPS (THASTINGS) 
DEPT PLEASE PASS USTR (LAGAMA) 
DAKAR FOR FAS (HANSON) 
ACCRA FOR REO (JHUNT) 
PARIS FOR D'ELIA 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EAGR ECON PGOV BN
SUBJECT: COTTON HARVEST NUMBERS RELEASED AND ENDOSULFAN BANNED 
 
REF: 07 COTONOU 810 
 
¶1. SUMMARY: Benin's Cotton Stakeholders Association (AIC) estimates 
the mid-season 2007-2008 cotton harvest at 182,567 metric tons, 
accounting for about 65 percent of the estimated total production 
(Reftel).  In other cotton news the GOB, citing environmental and 
health concerns, banned the import and the use of the cotton 
pesticide known as endosulfan and ordered it replaced by tihan. End 
Summary. 
 
------------------------------------- 
Mid-Season Cotton Production Estimate 
------------------------------------- 
 
¶2. According to the AIC, as of January 20, 2008, Benin's cotton 
harvest amounted to 182,567 metric tons. The AIC's 2007-2008 
expected total production is 280,911 metric tons (Reftel) The AIC 
expects the remaining 98,344 metric tons which remain to arrive in 
the ginning factories by early March 2008. Instead of the 257,627 
hectares of cotton originally projected for cultivation 233,633 
hectares were actually planted, according to the AIC. This decrease 
in cultivated land is in part due to heavy rainfall in late 2007 
which washed away approximately 6,400 hectares of land normally used 
to produce cotton. 
 
----------------- 
Endosulfan Banned 
----------------- 
 
¶3. On February 6, 2008, the GOB decided to ban the import and the 
use of endosulfan, a pesticide for cotton plantation treatment, for 
future agricultural campaigns with an exception for the 2008-2009 
campaign. Tihan is the new pesticide the GOB chose to replace 
endosulfan.  The GOB stated it banned the import of endosulfan 
because it is dangerous and harmful to health and the environment. 
An AIC source explained that Endosulfan has a high level of toxicity 
and, according to him, caused the death of a number of cotton 
farmers.  Further health problems arose when farmers used endosulfan 
on their food crops.  The AIC source added that endosulfan keeps 
away reptiles, rats, and other animals, which upsets the 
environmental balance. 
 
¶5. The GOB has authorized the one-time, simultaneous, use of 
endosulfan and tihan for the 2008-2009 campaign for largely economic 
reasons. 576,000 liters of endosulfan are still in stock and the GOB 
does not want importers who already bought endosulfan to lose money 
they have already spent as a result of the ban. 
 
¶6. Comment: Cotton production in Benin is back on track. Though the 
GOB target of 400,000 metric tons will not be met, it is important 
to underline that this year's estimated production will increase by 
almost 15 percent compared to the last campaign. The replacement of 
endosulfan by tihan may impact this optimism. Cotton farmers' lack 
of familiarity with the proper utilization of a new pesticide and 
the reluctance of farmers to use a product they are not familiar 
with may constitute an obstacle for the 2008-2009 cotton campaign. 
End Comment. 
 
BROWN