Zambia: A Harvest That Keeps Zambia's Children Learning

What the report says

In a report from AllAfrica via Bird Story Agency, farmers in Dumba Settlement in Zambia’s Southern Province describe cotton as a crucial source of cash that helps keep children in school. The community, in the Magoye area of Mazabuka District, relies on earnings from the crop to pay for uniforms, books, shoes, food and, for some families, university expenses. The article places the settlement about 125 kilometres from Lusaka and notes that cotton is especially important because it brings in money more quickly than maize.

The story comes against the backdrop of Zambia’s free education policy, which has removed several school fees but has not eliminated all costs for households. Families in rural areas still need to cover items such as transport, learning materials and tertiary education. Farmers and local advocates say cotton income has become one way to bridge that gap, particularly when rainfall is poor and maize harvests are weak.

Several farmers quoted in the report say the crop has supported their children through school and helped them manage household needs. Others point to the challenges of low prices, input costs and access to quality seed. FIAN Zambia and Cotton Development Trust representatives say better seed, stronger farm-gate prices and quicker payments could help more families benefit. The report also notes efforts to promote more resilient cotton varieties as climate variability increases pressure on rural livelihoods.