• Increasing cotton yields will create more opportunities in the cotton value chain.
• Development of the cotton value chain has potential to create additional employment.
• Efforts by stakeholders aimed at improving cotton productivity will increase growth and guarantee income for rural households.

Handloom Textiles Technologies Association of Zambia (HATTAZ) says increasing cotton yields will create more opportunities in the cotton value chain.
Association National Coordinator Doris Phiri told Money FM News that the development of the cotton value chain has potential to create additional employment especially for rural women.
Ms. Phiri revealed that it is for this reason that the Association with support from International Cotton Advisory Committee and European Union under the Artisanal Value Addition project, has trained over 500 women in weaving and spinning of cotton.
She stated that women weaving and spinning cotton products have also been linked to the market.
“We have trained over 500 women across the country, we now have farmers that can make fabrics from cotton they grow, they can spin, weave the fabric that is being sold,” Ms. Phiri said.
Ms. Phiri stated that the Association is also working on getting certification from the Zambia Bureau Standards (ZABS) to ensure that women get into the export market.
She explained that certification will link the weavers and spinners to the international market further increasing the industry growth and guarantee income for rural households.
“We are optimistic that efforts by stakeholders aimed at improving cotton productivity will increase growth and guarantee income for rural households, “she said.