COTTON

closed

The Cotton Areas Rural Development Project consists of supplying farmers with technical advice and inputs to improve their overall farming systems. The specific components will be as follows : (i) expanding the cotton area and the area of food crops grown in rotation with cotton; (ii) clearing land for ox cultivation; (iii) establishing two new ox training centers and a maize seed farm; and (iv) providing credit to farmers for the purchase of farm inputs and equipment. The project will also provide funds for the : (v) training of local artisans as blacksmiths; (vi) building two cotton ginneries and extra cotton transport and storage facilities; (vii) constructing feeder roads, bridges and wells; and (viii) strengthening the executing agency by providing additional management, field staff and a monitoring unit.