Zambia makes cotton revival deal with Brazil

Cotton production in Zambia, which averages 55 000t annually, is too low and has prompted a collaboration with Brazil to bolster growth in the sector.

The country’s cotton sector faces a high incidence of pests and diseases, climate change, weed pressure, lack of modern farming practices and technology and the lack of proper price settings, among other challenges.

This situation has also affected output by 90% in the past 10 years following farmers’ frustrations, according to research by the UN Conference on Trade and Development.

Agriculture Minister Reuben Mtolo said the deal was anchored on three pillars: technological transfer, and increased cotton and seed supply while improving research facilities. It would be a game changer in Zambia’s quest to regain its past cotton production and compete in the international market.

“This collaboration will support technology transfer of cotton farming systems and support for the transfer of technologies suited to the agronomical and socio-economic conditions of the target region,” said Mtolo.

It is envisaged that Zambia will benefit from Brazil’s world-class institutions while gaining technical assistance and agricultural research from the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais.

Zambia is determined to reclaim the viable textile industry by regaining its reputation as one of the growth sectors when it produced

250 000t annually some years ago.

Brazilian ambassador to Zambia Arthur Villanova Nogueira said the project would last 36 months and benefit an estimated 300 000 Zambians who work in the sector.

“This is the most recent example of a south-to-south technical co-operation initiated between Zambia and Brazil. This programme was developed at the Zambian request, horizontally, without conditions on Brazil’s part.”

Recently, the Cotton Association of Zambia executive director John Ngwenyama lamented the slowdown in cotton output in recent years, saying the agreement would raise Zambia’s profile. A reason for the sharp decline, which had affected farmers’ livelihoods, was the Cotton Act of 2005. He said it allowed cotton producers to abuse farmers through price variations while various production incentives for production had been removed, forcing the many cotton ginners to exit the industry in preference of maize production.

Ngwenyama described cotton as “white gold”, although the real returns had dropped due to low yields averaging 300kg to 400kg/ha.

Arguably, cotton production has further faced a backlash with the liberation of the market, which allowed imported fabrics to enter the country. Liberalisation of the economy from a mono-system, coupled with the privatisation of most of the state-owned enterprises, meant most of the textile companies had collapsed.