Regional Markets

Regional Markets for Local Development
inputs, machinery maintenance on the processing side, and problems of sourcing additional
fabric for the garment manufacturing sector. The result is that increasingly raw
cotton (about 70% of all lint) is exported before processing. The breakdown of the cotton
ginning output is 51% lint, 48% seeds and 1% waste. Buyers process the cotton crop
by separating the lint (which is exported) from the seed. Seed is processed into cooking
oil with the cake turned into livestock feed. Farmers are only paid for the lint. They do
not benefit from the processing of seeds and waste which, as already said, places them
at the bottom end of the value chain.
The project’s main activities
Value addition at farmers’ level was one of
the central strategies for promoting pro-poor
development. It entails activities aimed at
reducing farming costs, training in improved
agricultural practices (especially quality crop)
and promotion of cotton as a commercial
business venture and market access. The
We thought that we should reach out to
farmers in other provinces in the country...
and in a week we had registered 20,000
smallholder farmers countrywide.
Easter Kambira (Chairperson, FACHIG Board
of Trustees)
project supports farmer access to cotton varieties that are more conducive to the local
weather conditions. The project further intends to introduce a pilot ginnery in Guruve
District. Eventually, the farmers will be able to secure full ownership of the ginnery
through subscriptions and contributions. Such ginneries will help farmers secure additional
benefits from value added processing of cotton lint and their directinvolvement
in the further processing, like yarning, fabric and garment making. They can also market
the by-products, such as seed, cotton oil, oilcakes, soap, etc. In areas that lack such
ginning facilities, the project intends to establish a warehouse receipt system, which
permits farmers to store their crop during the lean period and wait for a more favourable
market price—while still having income to feed their families. To minimise transport
costs such warehouses will be built closer to the farmers. Private investors will
finance the system initially (through a ‘build, operate and transfer’ scheme), with the
farmers later assuming full ownership. Farmers will be encouraged to join the FCPA,
a national level cotton based commodity association, in order to better access training
and advocacy activities.
A Gender Action Learning System (GALS) ensures gender balanced development and
empowerment. Women smallholder farmers are a particularly important target group,
as it is that they will constitute at least 60% of participating members by the end of the
project. Unemployed youth are another special focus group, in order to reduce rural
outmigration to the cities.The organisations presently involved in the project’s activities
include AAIZ, the FCPA, FACHIG, the Lower Guruve Development Association
(LGDA), and the Zimbabwe Coalition on Debt and Development (ZIMCCOD).
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