![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.ldc.com\/id\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/Zambia-2.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nPlanning of the first phase of the project began in 2017 with Cotton Export House Africa (CEHA). The aim is to eventually support 100,000 smallholder cotton farmers, training them in Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) to boost yield and production while protecting the environment, thereby increasing the farmers\u2019 income and improving their quality of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Historically, Zambia\u2019s cotton farmers have tended to use similar inputs year after year for pest control. This has allowed pests to become resistant to certain inputs formulations, and the resultant crop losses have led to yield reductions of more than 25% over the past five years. The project shows farmers how to control pests using products that are more effective, and less detrimental to health and the environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The farmers are also encouraged to help protect soil fertility through crop rotation and by planting other species, such as musangu trees, velvet beans and sunn hemp.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There is also a gender dimension to this project, as women constitute a significant part of the workforce in Zambia\u2019s cotton sector. By learning improved agricultural techniques, the women farmers gain confidence, credibility and capability. This in turn leads to higher incomes and a better chance to wield more power in the sector.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are many synergies that must join together to create sustainability in agriculture, and this project epitomizes how LDC as a company is engaging with our smallholder farmers to work toward that ambition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe see this project as a win-win-win,\u201d concludes Eran. \u201cIt\u2019s good for farmers, good for us, and by supporting the development of a sector that is a source of economic growth for the country, it will be good for Zambia too.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Agriculture employs more than half of Zambia\u2019s workforce and is therefore key to poverty alleviation efforts in the country. But observers tend to agree that the sector still produces far from its full potential. According to the government, cotton is one of the most important crops grown in Zambia and remains vital for the country\u2019s […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":5537,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[184],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2942","stories-insight","type-stories-insight","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-in-the-field"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n