NWK Agri Services Zambia Limited has purchased 2.5 million tonnes of cotton and paid out more than K8.7 billion to small scale farmers in Kabwe District of Central Province during the ongoing crop marketing season.

Company Agric Manager Chingwale Namachila however says most of the crop is exported due to lack of adequate textile factory in the country and the Province in particular.

Mr. Namchila has called on potential investors coming for the 2018 Central Province Investment Forum and Expo to take interest in textile industry because of the high cotton production in the district.

“The need to add value to the lint cannot be over emphasized; those investors coming for the Expo should look out for this potential because we have a lot of cotton here, and we need vibrant textile industry to motivate our farmers to grow more.”

The company has a ginnery in Mumbwa where the ginning takes place before exporting the crop.

Mr. Namchila was speaking when Central Province Permanent Secretary Chanda Kabwe toured the depot in Kabwe.

“There is a huge potential in cotton growing to change the economy of Kabwe and the Province at large; most of our cotton is exported after ginning at our ginnery in Mumbwa but I think we need to have a vibrant textile industry that would help in value addition,” he said.

And Mr. Kabwe said the 2018 Expo will unlock the huge economic potential in the region by creating partnerships between the local people and investors in various sectors especially agriculture.

Mr. Kabwe has noted that the bulk production of cotton is a clear demonstration to potential investors that the province presented great opportunities that needed to be exploited.

“Our model is to encourage to local people participate, to do partnership with foreign companies, that is the sure way we’re going to create a billionaire, we want to be the first Province to create a Zambian billionaire,” he said.