Public Management

ICAC partners with ITC to boost smallholder yields in Zambia

ICAC partners with ITC to boost smallholder yields in Zambia
Tuesday, 06 July 2021 16:40

The International Cotton Advisory Committee (ICAC) signed an MOU with the International Trade Centre (ITC) to double the yields of more than 50,000 smallholder cotton farmers for the next three years in Zambia.  

The effort, which is part of a larger agreement between the ITC and the European Union for support in Zambia, will see ICAC involve two of its most advanced technologies - the interactive, voice-based Soil & Plant Health app, and the Virtual Reality Cotton Training Program.

“ICAC’s pragmatic approach to increasing yields complements our own workstreams on cotton grading and marketing as well as fiber value addition perfectly,” said Matthias Knappe, Program Manager of Fibres, Textiles, and Clothing at ITC. “We are proud that this all-inclusive approach brings on board all national cotton stakeholders, from farmers and ginners to the government and research institutions,” he added.

This initiative to double yields by 2024 will only add up to the thousands of metric tons of raw cotton that the country produces every year. According to UNCTAD’s report published two months ago, Zambia produces approximately 55,000 metric tons of raw cotton annually. Out of this, the country exports most of its raw lint without any added value to its fiber. According to the ITC, South Africa and Switzerland are the country’s top buyers. However, because Zambia does not add value to its fiber or make use of its by-products, it imports cotton-made products from China, India, South Africa– more than thousands of woven fabrics of cotton, cotton yarn.

According to Indaba Agricultural Policy Research Institute, the low share of Zambia’s cotton in global trade, coupled with the decline in yields from 2016 till present, is attributed to the increasing number of competing crops such as soybeans and maize.

Solange Che

Additional Info

  • communiques: Non
  • couleur: N/A
On the same topic
Adenia Entrepreneurial Fund I (AEF) secures $180 million in its first close, exceeding its $150 million target. The fund targets...
Bank of Ghana lowers its policy rate by 150 basis points to 14%, the lowest since July 2021. The cut reflects improving macroeconomic conditions...
Ghana’s real GDP growth reached 6% in 2025, up from 5.8% in 2024. The services sector led growth, contributing over 63% and expanding 8.6% in...
Morocco forecasts economic growth rising to 5.6% in 2026 Outlook driven by agriculture rebound and resilient non-farm activity Inflation...
Most Read
01

Togo parliament adopts WAEMU law against currency counterfeiting Bill defines offences including ...

Togo Passes Law to Criminalize Counterfeiting of West African CFA Franc
02

CCR-UEMOA presents mid-term review of private sector competitiveness efforts Reforms, AfCFTA trai...

Strengthening the Business Climate in WAEMU Countries: CCR-UEMOA Reviews Its Midterm Record
03

Telecel Ghana to boost network investment by 150% in 2026 Expansion targets capacity, reliabi...

Telecel Ghana plans 150% investment increase in MTN-dominated market
04

ECOWAS is proposing a regional digital platform for passengers to file and track complaints online...

ECOWAS Considers Regional Platform to Enforce Air Passenger Compensation
05

World Bank announces $137 million to boost West Africa digital economy Program expands broad...

Benin, Liberia and Sierra Leone Receive $137M to Expand Digital Access for 5.2 Million People
Enter your email to receive our newsletter

Ecofin Agency provides daily coverage of nine key African economic sectors: public management, finance, telecoms, agribusiness, mining, energy, transport, communication, and education.
It also designs and manages specialized media, both online and print, for African institutions and publishers.

SALES & ADVERTISING

regie@agenceecofin.com 
Tél: +41 22 301 96 11 
Mob: +41 78 699 13 72


EDITORIAL
redaction@agenceecofin.com

More information
Team
Publisher

ECOFIN AGENCY

Mediamania Sarl
Rue du Léman, 6
1201 Geneva
Switzerland

 

Ecofin Agency is a sector-focused economic news agency, founded in December 2010. Its web platform was launched in June 2011. ©Mediamania.

 
 

Please publish modules in offcanvas position.