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 Projects
Cotton and Textile development Programme
Introduction
Cotton and Textile Development Programme was initiated from discussions between Lord David Sainsbury;
the Settler of the UK Gatsby Charitable Foundation (GCF) and ministers;
Hon. Juma Ngasongwa, then Minister for Planning, Economy and Empowerment and Hon Basil Mramba, then
the Minister for Industries, Trade and Marketing in January, 2007.This was during Lord Sainsbury’s visit
to Tanzania Gatsby Trust (TGT); funded by the Gatsby Charitable Trust where he expressed the willingness to
further provide support to Tanzania in a sector that would reduce poverty at the same time set a foundation for
industrial production and manufacturing.
The cotton and textile sub-sector was chosen based on its potential in reducing
poverty and the experience on the sector by the supporting partners. In Tanzania, cotton contributes to the
livelihood of about 40% of the population and was largest export earner in 2005/2006. Presently, 70-80% of cotton
production is exported as lint while the remainder is processed by the local textiles industry producing variety of
products at different stages along the value chain for textiles and garments. The activities include Research system, Extension
and Demonstration for cotton production and quality improvement and Textile production (Training at University of Dar es salaam,
University of Manchester and Vocational Education Training Authority.
Project implementation
To date the following has been achieved:
- Cotton Sub sector Study with a focus on the long-term potential for a major increase in the output
of Tanzania’s cotton and textile sector with a view to maximizing its potential contribution to
the generation of increased GDP, exports, farmer incomes and manufacturing employment.
- A development strategy for Cotton and Textile programme with ambitious objectives but are achievable :-
- Increase of cotton production from 700,000 bales to 1,500,000 bales per annum.
- Raise yields from 750kg/ha to 1500kg/ha by 2010 and 2,500 kg/ha by 2015.
- Increase the proportion of lint of consumed in the domestic textile industry from 30% to 90% by 2015.
- Conservation Agriculture (CA) to Cotton growing aims at increasing the productivity/yield at the farm level based
on the well developed crop management practices for both cotton and food production. The CA is unique agriculture practice
that involves simultaneously sustained use of four principles that are;
- Minimum soil disturbance (ideally no Tilling and Direct seeding)
- Permanent soil cover (ideally 100% + using crop residuals and/or Green manure cover crops)
- Multi-cropping (ideal crop rotation)
- The integration of crop and livestock production
- Strategy for Textile that envisage at the increasing the value addition of the domestic consumption of cotton lint.
This requires subsequent increase in investment both local and foreign direct investment. The potential is mainly on continued
products (e.g. towels, bed sheets) and production of African based design themes for the export market. For this to be achieved
there is a need to support the development of skills that will be able to support this productions interims of textile engendering
and designs form the university to vocational college level.
Conclusion:
Textiles and garments have a potentially important role to play in Tanzania’s economy as has been the case in many
developing countries. The establishment of a garment manufacturing sector does not require massive capital investment by firms or
particularly large investments in infrastructure by governments, relative to other sectors such as machinery or chemicals. So the
adhering to the mentioned strategy goals and application of the Conservation Agriculture will not only add to cotton value chain but
also the food security of the cotton growers’ family thus improving the quality of life of millions and thus bring meaningful
contribution to the country economy.
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