Initiative

SUSTAIN Cotton Initiative

I. Background

In 2020, IAOM, IP began implementing the "SUSTENTA cotton" initiative, which is part of the national policy for integrating family farming into production value chains. This initiative promotes the integration of oilseed and food security crops into the cotton subsector platform, with the aim of contributing to:

1. Increase and diversify the income of cotton producers;
2. Massify the production of cotton and selected strategic crops, through technical assistance and market links;
3. Increasing the availability of raw materials to promote the development of national industry
4. Generate employment and improve the food and nutritional security of the producers involved.

II. Implementation and target group

In order to implement the SUSTENTA Cotton initiative, cotton companies were identified as implementation partners, as they currently represent a structured platform with the experience to implement this initiative. This initiative involves producers in the provinces of Nampula and Niassa, with a view to expanding implementation to other cotton companies in the country.

 III. Actions taken and in progress

1. In the first year of implementation, the 2020/21 campaign, around 3,000 producers were involved who, in addition to producing cotton, introduced soybeans and sunflowers, corn and beans into their production system, allowing them to increase their family income.
2. The producers were given technical assistance and access to production inputs on credit, and the Development Companies ensured the purchase of their production.