Zambia: A Harvest That Keeps Zambia's Children Learning

In the southern Zambian farming settlement of Dumba, located in the Magoye area of Mazabuka District, families rely on income from a drought-resilient crop to fund their children's education and daily expenses. Cotton farming has become a financial lifeline for many rural households, allowing them to afford school uniforms, books, and meals.

Farmers argue that better seeds, higher prices, and quicker payments could enable more families to reap similar benefits. In a classroom in Dumba, students huddle at worn wooden desks, diligently working through exercise books under faded blue-and-cream walls. The introduction of free education has led to a surge in enrollment, with nearly 6.83 million learners enrolled in 2025, including 706,049 early childhood education students, 4.69 million primary school pupils, and about 1.43 million secondary school students.

However, access to education remains uneven, with UNICEF estimating that around 800,000 school-age children in Zambia are out of school. While the government’s free education policy eliminates tuition, fees, and examination costs for preschool through secondary school, families still bear expenses like uniforms, books, transport, and tertiary education fees.

In rural farming communities, seasonal income determines whether these costs are affordable. FIAN Zambia, part of the international human rights organization advocating for the right to food, highlights how cotton farming can bolster rural children’s access to education. Country coordinator Vladmir Chilinya cites Magoye, where cotton income helps families cover expenses beyond free education, including books, uniforms, and food.

He notes that during the 2023/2024 drought, cotton sustained livelihoods despite maize production failures. For Dumba resident Benita Mainga, cotton has directly contributed to her children's education. She emphasizes that cotton is a cash crop, providing financial stability regardless of weather conditions. Her husband, Kenneth Mainga, adds that cotton brings in income more quickly than maize, which can sit idle for months awaiting buyers.

Cotton income has also enabled Chompya Balewa to support two children through higher education, and it has proven more resilient than maize during periods of unreliable rainfall. The timely payment for cotton allows families to promptly meet school requirements, healthcare costs, and emergency needs, unlike maize, which only yields income during the marketing season.

Concelia Kalumba, a 52-year-old cotton farmer since 1990, underscores the crop's long-term importance for household income. She notes that cotton has consistently provided a reliable source of funds for family needs, including education and food, making it an indispensable crop for the community.