A programme was organized by the International Trade Centre (ITC), as part of a project funded by the European Union and financed by the United Kingdom that empowered about 40 cotton farmers with value addition skills to improve their crop through a comprehensive farmer-training programme in Mumbwa.

The participants, mostly women, acquired life skills to help them process cotton into lint, yarn and potentially artisanal products.

Over 300,000 small-scale cotton farmers in Eastern, Muchinga, Central, Lusaka and Southern provinces earn income for their livelihoods from the crop.

The training will enable farmers make additional income and create job opportunities, particularly for the youth.

To support the development of value added cotton, Zambian farmers will work closely with handloom weavers to produce cotton yarn and supply them to the weavers for production of handwoven products, which will be marketed in Zambia.

During the training, the Cotton Association of Zambia (CAZ) organized visits for a delegation of donors and government representatives from the Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry to raise awareness and support for the development of value-added cotton in Zambia.