Cotton price negotiation

The Cotton Association of Zambia (CAZ) was formed in 2005 to represent approximately 50,000 smallholder cotton farmers in the country.

Cotton farmers in Eastern, Muchinga and Central provinces had long faced significant structural barriers, as the Cotton Act (2005) limited negotiating powers to individual farmers and offered limited protection from unfair contract arrangements. Simultaneously, climate-related production risks were increasing amid declining soil fertility. 

Women and youth, who contribute substantially to cotton production, remained on the margins of governance and policy dialogue.

Forest and Farm Facility activities

FFF support facilitated a decisive turning point. Finance was provided to strengthen CAZ’s organisational base, facilitate inclusive consultations and provide technical support between 2023 and 2025. This developed CAZ’s organisational capacity in lobbying and advocacy.

As a result, CAZ was able to firm up its contributions to the multistakeholder platform, which includes various stakeholders such as the Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry, the Cotton Board of Zambia, the Cotton Development Trust, WeEffect, Indaba Agricultural Policy Research Institute and the Zambia Cotton Ginners Association.

Backed by a radio outreach programme, from March 2023 onward CAZ conducted ward-level farmer dialogues to gather inputs on sector issues. These dialogues resulted in a unified farmer agenda focused on fair pricing, contract transparency and formal recognition of farmer representation in cotton governance. Notably, participation included more than 42% women and 33% youth, ensuring that the priorities reflected the perspectives of those most engaged in daily production.

Significance of impact

Following journalist engagements in Lusaka, Southern, Central and Eastern provinces, in 2024 the Cabinet of Zambia granted approval in principle for a bill proposing amendments to the Cotton Act (2005). Amendments included strengthening regulations within the cotton industry and addressing the lack of harmonised funding and extension services for cotton grower groups, poor seed and chemical quality, and the lack of a collective price-setting mechanism. The bill passed all stages in parliament and the revised Cotton Act (2025) was formally approved in December 2025.

The significance of this policy reform can be seen at the community level. The Temwani Women’s Weavers Development Club, for example, was formerly an unregistered community group under CAZ. The group successfully secured formal registration through FFF and CAZ support in 2022, after having undergone training sessions on the importance of formalisation of their study circle groups into cooperatives to benefit from the terms of the new Cotton Act (2025).

This opened up opportunities under the revised legislation, such as access to the government’s Constituency Development Fund. The group gained national visibility, culminating in recognition from the first lady of Zambia, Mutinta Hichilema, who donated ten sewing machines to support their enterprise.

Their experience demonstrates how better organisation and links to policy processes can directly translate into economic empowerment and improved livelihoods for rural women.

Conclusion

Through FFF support, CAZ was able to develop its organisational capacity in lobbying and advocacy services. CAZ facilitated inclusive consultations with smallholder farmers, resulting in a unified farmer agenda, which directly influenced policy changes now enshrined in law.

Further reading

Forest and Farm Facility 2023 annual report: climate resilient landscapes and improved livelihoods, Forest and Farm Facility (2024)

Boosting community forestry and agroforestry businesses: field lessons learned for improving and upscaling returns from FFPO initiatives in Africa, Vincent Ziba, Gordon Manu, Sophie Grouwels, Lwanga Malwa, Duncan Macqueen (2024), FAO, Rome