President Announces US$100 million Investment in Cotton

President Hakainde Hichilema has announced a US$100 million investment in cotton production during the 118th Zambia National Farmers Union (ZNFU) Congress at the Mulungushi International Conference Centre. 

The President made the announcement while officiating the event where he made a call to farmers to revolutionise the agricultural sector and said that government views out grower schemes as a key tool for contributing to economic growth.

According to the President cotton growers will have a guaranteed market at Mulugushi Textiles.

He also used the occasion to reaffirm government’s commitment to diversifying the economy by supporting all sectors and said he encouraged out grower schemes in other sectors such as aquaculture and poultry.

Reflecting on the event President Hichilema stated, “we encouraged farmers to embrace and promote outgrower scheme models that would enhance productivity and help in knowledge sharing across the different agriculture sectors, especially with small and medium scale farmers. It is unacceptable that just one year of drought could make our country food insecure. By embracing innovation and irrigation technology, our farmers can grow crops throughout the year and guarantee food security. We emphasised that food insecurity, is national insecurity.” 

“Despite the disruptions that the drought has caused, it has been a wake up call for us as a country to invest in technologies and farming methods that can make our country climate resilient”, he continued.

Photo credit: President Hichilema Facebook page.