The development of cotton production in Western and Central Africa began in the 1960s. Most farmers have acquired considerable technical skills concerning this crop, especially with respect to the use of animal draught, herbicides, weed and pest control. Current initiatives are geared towards improving farming system adaptability by providing better advice on technical and economic issues. CRAD and partners are conducting development-oriented research to come up with family farming advisory systems that could facilitate farmers' adaptation to a diverse range of situations.