Tanzania Gatsby Trust to implement cotton programme

03 May '12

2 min read

Tanzania Gatsby Trust (TGT), funded by the UK-based Gatsby Charitable Foundation, has announced that it would gradually implement its cotton development programme in 25 districts, in collaboration with the Government.

The programme envisages development of a marketing structure for the cotton sector in Tanzania, Ms. Olive Luena, CEO of TGT, said during her meeting with TGT founder Lord David Sainsbury and Tanzanian Minister of Industries and Trade Dr. Cyril Chami.

Ms. Luena said the long-term programme has been successfully tried in various districts for three years and it will now be fully implemented across 25 districts in the country.

She said the Tanzania Cotton Association has expressed support to TGT cotton programme, so as several cotton growers who have been involved in the programme during the experimentation phase.

She added that the TGT programme will also assist the Tanzania Cotton Board (TCB) in initiating the use of improved varieties of cotton seed and thereby to help farmers increase their yields.

In addition, the TGT initiative would provide training to farmers and would explain them the advantages of taking weather insurance while availing loans.

TGT would also undertake a research to find out the impact of its programme on farmers, which can be later on put before the Government.

Lord Sainsbury, who earlier served as Minister of Science in the UK, will meet President Jakaya Kikwete and Minister of Agriculture Jumanne Maghembe this week to further discuss Government involvement in the cotton programme.

Fibre2fashion News Desk - India

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