Bird Story Agency

A women's farming group in southern Malawi is reinvesting cotton earnings into poultry, livestock, shops, and savings schemes, creating year-round income and financial independence. Their success highlights potential improvements for Malawi's cotton sector if issues with seed quality, pricing, and market access are resolved.

A scheme tested in Uzbekistan could allow African cotton farmers to earn income from both cotton fiber and soil carbon credits.

A locally developed portable ginnery in Kenya is enabling cotton farmers to process their harvests locally, reducing losses and increasing earnings by selling lint and seed separately. Developers argue that decentralized processing could revive Kenya's cotton industry and retain economic value and jobs in rural areas.

Ethiopia is building an ambitious cotton-to-clothing value chain by connecting farmers, researchers, and manufacturers to drive industrialization, create jobs, and strengthen regional trade. The initiative aims to capture more value from Africa's natural resources.

Hybrid cotton seeds in Zimbabwe are increasing yields and resilience to climate shocks and pests, revitalizing cotton farming and improving farmer livelihoods.