'Zambian cotton textile industry has huge potential'

18 Mar '14

2 min read

The cotton textile industry in Zambia, a landlocked country in Southern Africa, has the huge potential to contribute a much bigger share to the country’s economy, says a Times of Zambia article.

In Zambia, four provinces—Eastern, Central, Southern and Lusaka—account for majority of the cotton grown in the country. These provinces harvest an average of 500 kg of cotton per hectare.

Last year, the country harvested 100,000 tons of cotton, but the production is expected to increase to 168,000 tons this year based on seed sold and cotton planted area, says the report.

Increased support and input provisions provided by ginners to cotton growers is one of the reasons for the expected increase in cotton production this year.

In the past, Zambia was home to some textile and garment manufacturing enterprises like Swap Spinning Mills in Ndola, Mukuba Textiles in Ndola, and the Kabwe-based Zambia China Mulungushi Textiles (ZCMT).

However, these industries are defunct today, and all that Zambia exports is cotton, mostly to the Far Eastern countries, which China being the biggest market.

Last month, Defence Permanent Secretary Rose Salukatula informed the Parliamentary Committee on Government Assurances that the Zambian and the Chinese Governments have agreed to lease the textile unit. If it materializes, it would revive Zambia’s textile industry.

Similarly, the Government is also making plans to attract investors for Ndola-based Mukuba Textiles and Swap Spinning Mills, which would provide jobs in yarn production and knitting sectors.

Once the Zambian textile industry becomes viable, it would be able to compete with Zimbabwe and South Africa, which have thriving textile and garment industries, states the report.

Fibre2fashion News Desk - India

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