By Ousman Kaliati:
The Cotton Council of Malawi (CCM) has said it is working to address challenges in the cotton sub-sector to ensure increased benefits for farmers and investors.
CCM Executive Director Cosmas Luwanda said this during a ‘We Effect Regional Workshop’ in Salima District.
Luwanda said the number of investors entering the sector has decreased due to persistent challenges over the years.
He said the council is structuring the cotton sector as well as putting up a seed development strategy to ensure supply of affordable and quality seeds to farmers.
“Cotton production has been facing challenges over the past 10 years because investors have been few,” he said.
Luwanda then urged farmers to consider cash crops like cotton to contribute towards growth of the economy.
We Effect Country Manager Esther Chirwa said although cotton production is on the rise, additional efforts are necessary to improve for enhanced women’s participation.
“Production is picking up, but we still need to do more as we need to have 50,000 metric tons or so, but unfortunately, our production levels are low,”She said.
She said We Effect is committed to supporting the government of Malawi in cotton production while urging women to take active roles in the field to ensure that they are financially-dependent.
Grace Liwonde who hails in the area of senior Chief Kalonga under Kachikumba group said ever since she ventured into cotton production her family livelihoods has transformed a lot as she can now feed her family without relying on her husband.
The Women Economic Empowerment in the Cotton Value Chain project is being implemented in Malawi,Zimbabwe, Zambia, and Mozambique with funding from the Embassy of Sweden through We Effect.
In Malawi, the project is being carried out in three districts: Salima, Balaka, and Mangochi by the African Institute of Corporate Citizenship.
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