The visit is part of the process of onboarding Zambia for possible south-to-south cooperation between the two countries.

Brazil at the request of the Zambian government through the Cotton Board requested the Brazilian agency for international cooperation ABC through a concept note on the cotton industry’s possible areas of cooperation.

Some areas of possible cooperation include among others, extension provision, research funding, pest management, and the production of field guides.

The main objective of the technical mission is to gather relevant and detailed information about the cotton sector, with a view to providing a solution to boost farming of the cash crop in Zambia.

And Cotton Board of Zambia, Chairperson, Raymond Mpundu says the board wants Brazil to help Zambia improve cotton productivity.

Mr. Mpundu is optimistic that Brazil’s involvement, being the second-largest exporter in the market and fourth-largest cotton producer, will improve the industry in Zambia.

Meanwhile, Eden Martingo, the Second Secretary for the Western and Southern Africa Division of the Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs says Zambia’s cotton industry has the potential to grow.

Mr. Martingo says Zambia should begin to identify certain technical challenges hindering the growth of the sector.

In August 2022, the Cotton Board of Zambia participated in the l3th Brazilian Cotton Congress (CBA), held in Salvador, Brazil.

After the congress, Zambia expressed interest in joining the “Brazilian South-South technical cooperation program for the cotton sector”, through a bilateral project for the benefit of the country.

Brazil is the world’s second-largest exporter and fourth-largest producer of cotton.

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Minister of Agriculture Reuben Mtolo says stakeholders should participate by making submissions to the ministry on the review of the act to make it responsive to the needs of the sector.  Mr. Mtolo said the government is determined to address challenges in the cotton sector to enhance productivity.

He also said there is a need for capacity building to empower and strengthen the smallholder cotton farmers in the industry.  And the minister has tasked the Cotton Association of Zambia to do more to improve the farmer organization, financial capacity, and partnership relationship with cotton ginners. He said this in a speech read on his behalf by ministry Director Seed Control and Certification Institute Francisco Mitti at the cotton development trust cotton field day in Magoye.

Meanwhile, Mr. Mtolo has urged researchers, the cotton board of Zambia, and ginners to promote the adoption of low-cost sustainable cotton production technologies to small-scale farmers in order to improve gross margins. He says the price setting of seed cotton must be transparent and fair for both players to ensure equitable sharing of not only risks but also profits.

And Cotton development trust Director Lwisha Silwimba said the overall objective of the institution is to improve cotton production and incomes among small-scale farmers in Zambia.  Mr. Silwimba stated that cotton production occupies an important place in the economic development of the country and deserves adequate support.  He said CDT is ready to provide the technological base for developing the cotton industry in Zambia.

And Cotton Board of Zambia chief executive officer Sunduzwayo Banda says the law is changing to eliminate unfair practices in the industry. He said the board would want farmers to be part of the price determination mechanism.

This year field day was celebrated under the theme “Promoting sustainable and regenerative agricultural technologies amidst climate change “.

Various stakeholders including Agro-dealers, ginners, and seed companies among others took time to showcase the new technologies in the sector.

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