Mon, 11 Dec 2017 13:40:29 +0000
By Buumba Chimbulu
ZAMBIA is among four African countries that have been shortlisted to participate in the implementation of a US$591,000 United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD’s) project aimed at promoting cotton by-products in Eastern and Southern Africa (ESA).
The project is expected to increase the value addition to cotton by-products through improving both the capacity building of cotton value chain stakeholders and policy makers in beneficiary countries.
UNCTAD National Economic Affairs Officer, Special Unit on Commodities, Kris Terauds, explained that the project which started in March 2016 and was expected to end in 2019 also aimed to assess the potential value, market situation and prospects for cotton by-products.
Mr. Terauds further explained that the project was expected to strengthen the capacity of beneficiary countries in the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) region to assess the viability of the development of cotton by-products and formulate evidence based policies that promote value addition activities.
“Other beneficiary countries include Zimbabwe, Tanzania, and Uganda. At the end of the project we expect improved capacity of policymakers to formulate evidence based policies that improve the value added of cotton by-products and devise investment profiles to attract potential investors.
“A survey of a cross section of stakeholders in the cotton value chain has been conducted in Zambia and the country’s case study based on the results of the survey will be prepared,” Mr Terauds said.
He said during the national capacity building workshop organised by UNCTAD and the Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry in Lusaka recently that the project was being funded by UN Development Account.
Mr. Terauds said the project would also help to develop the cotton by-products sector in four countries to create economic opportunities, increase value addition and increase the total income that farmers earn from growing cotton.
He also said during the workshop, stakeholders agreed on a draft national action plan for developing cotton by-products in Zambia, with two strategic proposals aiming at developing new absorbent cotton technologies and products and developing a new value chain for cotton stalks.
“Participants also proposed that the Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry convene a multi-stakeholder committee to oversee the implementation of this plan. UNCTAD will support the Government and the proposed oversight committee in the implementation of the national action plan,” Mr Terauds said.
