Inonge Wina, Vice President of Zambia recently visited Indian company Shree Vagmi Cotton, which plans to invest $7 million in the next three years to build a cotton lint processing factory in Zimbia.
The company has acquired a 26-acre land in Mwembeshi area of Chibombo district in the Central Province and would engage 23,000 cotton farmers in the country in two years.
Vagmi already has a cotton factory in Indore. The company plans to evolve into a full textile company in 2020 and resuscitate the once vibrant textile industry in Zambia. It will run a scheme under which it will supply farmers with seed, chemicals, wool packs and collect cotton from farming areas. The company will also build houses for some Zambian staff running the factory.
A Brief about Cotton Industry in Zambia
The cotton industry in Zambia has a long history dating back to the colonial era when cotton was grown as a cash crop. Today, the cotton industry is a significant contributor to Zambia’s economy, providing income and employment opportunities for many farmers and workers.
Zambia’s cotton industry is mainly located in the eastern and southern parts of the country. Cotton is grown by small-scale farmers, who are organized into cooperatives and sell their cotton to ginning companies. The ginning companies process the cotton into lint, which is then sold to textile manufacturers.
The Zambian government has implemented various policies to support the cotton industry, including providing subsidies to farmers and improving access to credit. However, the cotton industry faces several challenges, including low yields due to poor farming practices, pest infestations, and unreliable weather patterns.
Furthermore, the cotton industry in Zambia has struggled to compete with cheaper imported cotton from other countries, which has led to a decline in cotton production in recent years.
Despite these challenges, the cotton industry remains an important sector of the Zambian economy and efforts are being made to improve productivity and competitiveness through better farming practices and investment in processing and marketing.
