• The country has missed it when it comes to value addition.
• Cotton grown in Zambia is currently being exported to far flung countries for further value addition.
• It comes back as fabric which citizens buy at exorbitant prices.

BuyZed Campaign has advised Entrepreneurs to consider partnering with multi-national companies in a bid to set up textile mills so as to add value to the cotton grown in Zambia.
Speaking in an interview with Money FM News, Organization Founder Evans Ngoma states that as it stands, cotton is fetching at K15 per kilogram, which is good news for the farming community.
Mr. Ngoma noted that the country has missed it when it comes to value addition and increasing productivity, hence the need to complete the cotton value chain.
He said the Organization has noticed the sleeping potential in the textile sector, noting that in the first Republic, Zambians were self-sustaining because the country had textile industries in Kabwe, Kafue and Livingstone which are no longer operational due to a number of reasons.
“Zambia is very well positioned geographically, with a favorable climate for literally most of the agriculture production and it puts us at a greater advantage to produce more and more. As a country, I think we have missed it in one way or another when it comes to value addition and increasing productivity of whatever we are doing.”
“Zambia had textile industries in Kabwe, Kafue and Livingstone but these facilities are no longer operational due to a number of reasons. So we would like to advise entrepreneurs to consider partnering with multi-nationals and begin to set up textile mills,” Mr. Ngoma stated.
Mr. Ngoma added that it is sad the cotton grown in Zambia is currently being exported to other countries for further value addition, which is later imported as fabric and sold to consumers at high prices.
“The cotton grown in Zambia is currently being exported to far flung countries for further value addition and it comes back as fabric which we buy at exorbitant prices being transferred onto consumers here in Zambia,” he said.
Mr. Ngoma also called on government to set up polices that are going to favor production of fabric in Zambia.
“In short, we are advocating for formation of textile mills in the country to begin to add value to the cotton. This sector is going to see a number of decent jobs being created along the value chain,” he added.