Afric Co-operative Society Targets 500,000 Cotton Bales by 2030, Seeks Government Support

Cotton producers operating under Afric Co-operative Society Ltd have set an ambitious target of increasing cotton production to 500,000 bales by 2030, calling for strategic investment in quality seeds, modern ginning facilities and textile processing to revive the sector and improve farmers’ incomes.

The producers, based in Mbale, presented their proposals to the Parliamentary Committee on Tourism, Trade and Industry, chaired by Hon. Boniface, where they highlighted persistent challenges affecting cotton production, including declining output, low farm-gate prices and limited local value addition.

The farmers said addressing these challenges would be critical to restoring the competitiveness of Uganda’s cotton industry, expanding employment opportunities and supporting the country’s import substitution agenda.

Afric Co-operative Society Ltd Secretary General Womakuyu W. Wilson said the sector continued to face difficulties that undermine farmers’ productivity and returns, despite cotton’s potential to contribute to household incomes, industrial development and national economic growth.

He called for deliberate investment across the cotton value chain, arguing that increasing production alone would not be sufficient unless farmers also benefited from better processing facilities and stronger local markets.

Investment in quality seed and modern technology

The producers identified access to quality cotton seed as one of the key interventions needed to raise yields and achieve the target of 500,000 bales by 2030.

They argued that improved planting materials, coupled with better farming practices and appropriate technical support, would help farmers increase productivity and improve the quality of cotton harvested.

Modern ginning facilities were also highlighted as a priority. Ginning involves separating cotton fibre from seeds, a process that prepares the fibre for further industrial processing.

The farmers said upgrading ginning infrastructure would strengthen processing capacity, improve efficiency and support the development of a more competitive cotton industry.

They further called for investment in textile processing to enable Uganda to move beyond the production and sale of raw cotton towards manufacturing higher-value products locally.

Such an approach, they argued, would allow more of the value generated along the cotton supply chain to remain within the country, benefiting farmers, processors, manufacturers and other businesses.

Low farm-gate prices remain a major concern

Low farm-gate prices were among the challenges raised by the producers, who said poor returns discourage farmers from expanding cotton cultivation and investing in improved production methods.

Farm-gate prices determine the amount farmers receive when selling their produce to buyers. When these prices are unattractive relative to production costs, farmers may reduce the acreage devoted to cotton or shift to alternative crops.

The producers therefore called for interventions that would improve the commercial viability of cotton farming and ensure that increased production translates into better earnings for growers.

A stronger domestic processing industry could also create additional market opportunities, although improved farmer incomes would depend on fair pricing arrangements, efficient market access and a more effective relationship between producers and buyers. 

Boosting local value addition and job creation

The proposals also place emphasis on increasing local value addition as part of Uganda’s broader industrialisation strategy.

Cotton provides raw material for several industries, including textiles, garments and other cotton-based products. Expanding domestic processing could help create jobs across farming, transport, ginning, textile manufacturing and related commercial activities.

The producers believe that strengthening these linkages would help transform cotton from a predominantly agricultural commodity into a driver of industrial growth.

Locally manufactured textiles and garments could also contribute to import substitution by reducing reliance on imported finished products, provided domestic manufacturers can produce competitively priced goods that meet market demand.

For cotton-growing communities, a stronger value chain could generate additional economic opportunities beyond the farm, particularly where processing and manufacturing investments create sustained demand for locally produced cotton.

Parliamentary engagement

Presenting their proposals to the Committee on Tourism, Trade and Industry provides the producers with an opportunity to draw Parliament’s attention to the policy and investment measures they believe are necessary to revive the sector.

The engagement comes amid calls for stronger collaboration among government, agricultural cooperatives, seed suppliers, cotton processors and textile manufacturers to address the challenges facing cotton production.

Achieving the 2030 target will require more than an increase in the number of farmers growing cotton. It will also depend on access to reliable inputs, improved agronomic practices, adequate financing, competitive markets and sufficient processing capacity.

Clear implementation plans, investment commitments and measurable production targets would be important in assessing progress towards the proposed 500,000-bale goal.

Reviving Uganda’s cotton industry

The ambitions of Afric Co-operative Society Ltd reflect a broader challenge facing agricultural value chains: ensuring that increased primary production is matched by processing capacity, market access and better returns to producers.

For the cotton sector, sustainable growth will depend on whether farmers can earn sufficient income to remain engaged in production while local industries develop the capacity to absorb and process more of the crop.

The proposals presented by the Mbale-based producers therefore place renewed focus on the need to link agricultural productivity with industrial development.

If supported by appropriate investment and coordinated interventions, the drive to produce 500,000 bales by 2030 could help strengthen Uganda’s cotton value chain, expand employment and contribute to the country’s ambition of producing more goods locally.

However, reaching the target will require sustained action to address declining production, improve farm-gate returns and expand domestic processing so that the benefits of growth extend from cotton farms to the wider economy.