Aid by Trade Foundation (AbTF) and its Cotton Made in Africa (CMiA) initiative, are supporting Ugandan farmers through sustainable cotton farming.
With successful verification of the Western Uganda Cotton Company (WUCC) and the cooperating cotton farmers, around 5,400 smallholder farmers are benefitting from CMiA.
As partners of CMiA, local farmers receive regular training on agricultural and business topics. They also benefit from reliable contracts and prompt payment for their harvest. With its market-oriented approach, the foundation also aims to improve the competitiveness of cotton from Uganda, according to a press release.
Nearly 80 per cent of Uganda’s population works in agriculture. By establishing a sustainable basis for the cultivation of cotton for both people and the environment, CMiA is making a significant contribution towards the fight against poverty and offering a reliable livelihood to Uganda’s smallholder farmers.
Tina Stridde, managing director of the foundation said, “We are delighted to be able to cooperate with smallholder farmers from Uganda and to assist them with training as well as the creation of a demand alliance for their cotton with the CMiA seal. This benefits local people and is a considerable success for our foundation with Uganda becoming the ninth country from Sub-Saharan Africa where we are actively supporting sustainable cotton farming and the rights of local farmers.”
CMiA promotes aid by trade in order to improve the living conditions of cotton farmers and their families in Sub-Saharan Africa. Smallholder farmers from Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Malawi, Ghana, Cameroon and Ivory Coast are partnering with CMiA. The initiative offers cotton farmers training in modern, efficient and environmentally friendly cultivation methods that allow them to increase the quality of their cotton as well as their crop yields, and thereby, generate higher incomes.