Govt commits to support cotton farmers, as Revamp Report submitted

Government has reaffirmed its support for the cotton industry because of its potential to contribute to job creation and economic growth of the country.

Agriculture Minister, Mtolo Phiri, said government would fully support the Cotton Board of Zambia (CBZ) in its quest to grow the cotton industry.

He said this when the Cotton Board of Zambia submitted a Cotton Sector Revamp Report intended to revive the cotton sector in the country at his office on Thursday.

“The cotton sector has been massively affected due to lack of government’s support which is now a thing of the past,” Phiri said.

He noted that the cotton sector had the potential to contribute 50 percent to the country’s Gross Domestic Product.

Phiri also encouraged farmers to venture into cotton farming as government explored ways on how to revive the textile industry and ensure the establishment of value chain for the sector.

“The cotton sub sector had equally been affected through the low pricing of non-food crops which had contributed to low productivity,” he said.

The Minister also noted that cotton farmers in the sector were fragmented, making it easy for foreign buyers to take advantage and exploit farmers.

Cotton Board of Zambia Chairman, Raymond Mpundu, said the Board had presented to the government a plan on how the cotton sector can be revived.

He said they anticipated to have a response from government on how the sector should be revamped.

WARNING! All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express permission from ZAMBIA MONITOR.