Case Study: Africa Cotton Program
4th February, 2024
From 2014 to 2023, we partnered with Business 4 Development and Palladium Group to support smallholder farming communities in Kenya and Mozambique. The program supported over 15,000 farmers and its strategy grew beyond cotton into a diversified crop approach, generating more than $530,000 from the production of 851 tonnes of cotton.
The Africa Cotton Program:
- Increased farmer training attendance by 28%
- Piloted new and innovative soil and water management practices for stronger climate mitigation strategies
- Saw PAVI, the farming cooperative, increase collaborators, programs and enhance technologies
- Introduced a ‘Lead Farmer Empowerment’ program where lead farmers aim to expand training to 2000 additional farmers by 2027
- Increased farmers’ training on Good Agricultural Practices through focused ‘Field Day Sessions’
- Attracted 100 new farmers in 2024
- Seen 100% of cotton farmers adopt complementary value chains (maize and assorted vegetable varieties) to boost household incomes and ensure food security
- Provided increased visibility through media for the cotton program to other farmers in the country, thanks to the launch of the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research Project
- Encouraged the Kenyan Government to prioritise cotton growing, processing and marketing as part of its agricultural revitalisation agenda. Earnings to farmers are expected to increase by 25% per every kilo of cotton produced
- Commenced a school uniform program where 200 uniforms made from cotton grown in Kwale were given to disadvantaged students from schools around cotton-growing areas. The project intends to increase employment opportunities for women in producing school uniforms
- Has been recognised at the World Retail Congress Awards.