CBZ partners with ACC to boost the cotton sector

The cotton board of Zambia has entered into a partnership with the African chamber of trade and commerce (ACC) through the international forum for transformation of African cotton, textiles & accessories (FICOTA) project aimed at boosting the cotton sector in Zambia.

board chief executive officer, Sunduzwayo Banda has told q-news in a statement that the partnership was entered into in Cairo at the ongoing capacity building course in cotton research and textile technology.

Mr. Banda says the development is in line with acc’s plans to rebrand the African cotton industry into a major income spinner for the small holder farmer and reduce poverty through value addition and value for cultivation.

He notes that the cotton sector in Zambia has 376,000 farmers who grow the crop and have over the years faced challenges in getting fair prices from the cotton companies, quality of inputs, quality of seed and poor extension services.

Mr. Banda is optimistic that the partnership will help address sector challenges and provide a platform for farmers to be exposed to better markets and value addition.

He states that the sector has potential to create more than 6,000 jobs in factories if value addition is re-introduced especially with spinning textiles.