1. YIELD / CmiA Program Approach to Improving Smallholder Cotton yields in Zambia Ben M. Sekamatte, YIELD / Cotton Made in Africa Program Manager, Dunavant Zambia Dunavant Zambia-founding partner in CmiA

2. Dunavant Zambia Head office Dunavant Zambia-founding partner in CmiA

3. Overview Background Productivity concerns The YIELD / CmiA Approach Outputs – Lessons learnt Conclusions

4. 1.Dominantly smallholder, lint export sub- sector Farmer Ginnery EU, China, India Long chain of Value addition-garments Retail stores EU customer Uses shirt 2yrs 2 nd hand cloth dealer Chain of traders 90% COMESA ZONE

6. Productivity concerns

7. Production trends - Zambia

8. Hectarage-led production

9. Comparative cotton Productivity Post liberalization profitability of the cotton sector in Zambia & and across Africa is hampered by chronically low on-farm yields- rarely >600kg /ha; Except Egypt over 900kg /ha. A major factor for Africa’s competitiveness Effects of Sharply declining world lint prices greatly felt Declining farmer enthusiasm

10. The YIELD/ Cotton made in Africa Program Programme: A private –Public partnership to empower smallholder cotton farmers

11. Germany DEG & Dunavant Partnership Y = yield I = improvement E = empowerment L = learning D = discipline

12. Productivity-supportive innovations Attempts to add value at the production level through Yield enhancement CmiA program innovatively organizes and trains smallholder farmers to improve production efficiency

13. Reaching the farmers Agric Managers Distributor Buyers DistributorsFarmers

14. Focus of the Yield Program Improve production efficiency & therefore yield, Increase net EARNINGS, Improve ECOLOGICAL & SOCIAL sustainability Through tailored training of 100,000 farmers in 2 years Early & proper land preparation Correct Time of planting Correct plant population Keeping a weed-free crop Wise Pest Management

15. Program Set up Program Manager 2 Zonal Managers 18 Area Coordinators 280 Site Coordinators 2800 Lead Farmers >40,000 Collaborating farmers

16. CmiA program operation sites

17. Training: Process & Focus Attitude Change –Field staff –Farmers Business mindedness CoP Price Yield Profit

18. Area-Based training of Farmer Trainers Dunavant Zambia-founding partner in CmiA

19. Training: Process & Focus Area coordinators train up to 20 Site Coordinators Individual Site Coordinators (in picture) Practically Demonstrate groups of 10 Lead farmers Dunavant Zambia-founding partner in CmiA

20. Training aided by Audio-Video Shows

21. Farmer Field Days & Exchange Visits

22. Outputs & Lessons learned so far Dunavant Zambia-founding partner in CmiA

23. Ordinary Farmers analysis Dunavant Zambia-founding partner in CmiA

24. Collaborating Farmers

25. CmiA Farmers analysis Dunavant Zambia-founding partner in CmiA

26. Per Ha Net incomes in US $ Dunavant Zambia-founding partner in CmiA

27. Conclusions 1.The highly inefficient farmer –level segment of the cotton value Chain can be improved through farmer empowerment programs. 2. Private-Public Cooperation e.g. CmiA can help change face of the industry & improve farmers’ incomes 3. YIELD / CmiA program presents a classical example of innovations for smallholder cotton productivity enhancement.