The four-day conference in Tanzania will have researchers and representatives from African cotton companies discuss topics of soil health, environmental pest management, and strategies for optimising cultivation techniques for African cotton farmers.
Tying in with Earth Day, which is to be celebrated across 175 countries on April 22, the event will see figures such as Dr Adam Cobb from the Soil Food Web School and Keshav Kranthi from the International Cotton Advisory Committee (ICAC) lead discussions alongside agricultural managers, consultants, and various stakeholders.
The event will not be confined to theoretical discussions but will incorporate hands-on activities. Participants, alongside 40 cotton industry representatives, will engage in practical demonstrations aimed at implementing sustainable agricultural measures and soil carbon sequestration techniques.
Belinda Edmonds, managing director of the African Cotton Foundation said: “Our workshop shows that with a holistic approach, where scientific expertise meets the real challenges of cotton farmers and stakeholders, we can bridge the gap between theory and practical implementation.”
The workshop will witness the planting of fruit trees, symbolising a collective effort by African cotton companies to achieve their goal of planting over 520,000 crop trees in CmiA cotton-growing regions by 2025.
These trees, including lemon, orange, tamarind, avocado, neem, and guava, are envisioned as additional sources of food and income for small-scale farming families, thereby serving to strengthen their resilience as well.
Alexandra Perschau, head of standards and outreach at the Aid by Trade Foundation commented: “Climate change and its effects threaten the livelihoods of small-scale farmers at a fundamental level through crop failures, hunger, and the loss of biodiversity.
"We can successfully push back by combining traditional knowledge with scientific discoveries and the latest technology to find innovative solutions for the agricultural problems of today. This will benefit small-scale farmers and help to ensure an environmentally sustainable future for cotton cultivation in Africa.”
