(Ecofin Agency) - Is the dynamic which made the Ivorian cotton crop reach a record level last year running out of steam? While the country had set its production target at 500,000 tons, it appears it will not reach the same level as last year according to Intercoton.

According to the president of the inter-professional cotton organisation of the country, the responsibility of this situation lies mainly with the weather. “Rainfall was quasi non-existent during the seeding period in May and June. We estimate that the production will be around 450,000-460,000 tons” Lacina Tuo confided to Reuters.

While the country is targeting a crop of 600,000 tons by 2017, Intercoton recently made a media appearance criticising the yield levels while advising the producers to develop the usage of fertilisers in order to circumvent this problem.