The Cotton Association of Zambia – CAZ, Executive Director has disclosed that the association is capable of meeting the required supply of cotton to Mulungushi Textiles once it reopens and begins operations.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with the Zambian Business Times, Cotton Association of Zambia Executive Director John Ngwenyama said, the reopening of China-Mulungushi Textiles comes with a lot of benefits for the farmers as it will motivate cotton farmers to increase their capacity on production so that they meet the demand for the textiles.
“One factor that will motivate the farmers is the stable market for the farmers as the local textiles will provide a local market for the Farmers there by reducing the reliance on fluctuating global markets because what has been happening is that for the ginners is that they have always been saying that they are offering this price because of the fluctuating global market prices, so that has brought mistrust among the local farmers.” He said.
He added that it has been difficult for them to bargain for a better price for their farmers as it has resulted in them being exploited thereby seeing most of them resort to taking cotton production as a by-the-way thing and not as a business.
“The local textiles that have been reopened will increase the bargaining power for our farmers as negotiating for prices and terms with the local manufacturers will be easy as they will not be depending on the international f luctuating markets as it will be locally decided which will be very easy for us to negotiate the price.” He alluded.
Ngwenyama further stated that the other challenge that they are facing is accessing quality planting seeds as there is no seed investor or company that is producing or multiplying the planting seed here in Zambia.
He further noted that the cotton farmers are more than capable of supplying Mulungushi textiles as what is just required is to guide the farmers, give them input such as quality seed as well as increasing monitoring and evaluation from planting up to the period of harvesting.
Ngwenyama further disclosed that currently there are about 100,000 cotton Farmers and the number is projected to increase to about 300,000 farmers which when projected on how much yield the 300,000 Farmers can be able to cover it is guaranteed to say they are most likely able to supply the Textiles.
