Wherever we operate, we collaborate with local communities, governments, development agencies and NGOs. We work alongside global partners to develop essential infrastructure including schools, sanitation and youth training while farming equipment is used in the off-season to help maintain roads.
We recognise all stakeholders in our engagements and the vital role they play in supporting the full value chain.
SNV Youth Organic Training Project 2022
SNV is a not-for-profit international development organisation working in Agriculture, Energy as well as Water, Sanitation & Hygiene (WASH)
The SNV and Plexus Youth Training Program highlighted the power of collaboration and the role of private sector can play in improving the lives of young people in agriculture. Global demand for organic cotton is growing rapidly which requires the development of new skills; which are transferable to other crops, including sunflower.
Covid-19 Prevention Partnership with CmiA and Western Uganda Cotton Company and Plexus Mozambique 2020/2021
Cotton made in Africa (an initiative of the Aid by Trade Foundation) has been helping support farmers in Kasese, Uganda and in Cabo Delgado region with Covid-19 prevention skills through an education and hygiene initiative.
A poster campaign has been promoted to local farmers, field extension officers and cotton ginning employees through Western Uganda Cotton Company and Plexus Mozambique
Our Field Extension Officer Programme, which was supported by CmiA’s grant program, ensured additional washing facilities to both farmers and gin employees.
CmiA Community Cooperation Programme in Collaboration with AbTF and in Partnership with Western Uganda Cotton Company
In collaboration with Cotton made in Africa (an initiative of the Aid by Trade Foundation), WUCC commenced in 2021 a project which will improve access to clean and safe drinking water by reducing the long distances covered to collect water in the Kasese region.
This programme will allow for five new boreholes to improve the daily living for the female farmers in the selected areas. The objective of the project is to reduce the workload on women by improving local access to clean water and reduce incidences of water borne diseases.
The beneficiaries within the appointed communities will be setting up a water management committee, who will be responsible for repairs and ensuring small maintenance fees are shared among the community members using the facilities.
African Cotton Foundation Partnership with Plexus Cotton
Plexus Cotton is a founding member of the African Cotton Foundation. We share common values in creating a thriving, modern and sustainable African cotton sector.
The members of the African Cotton Foundation have all contributed over the years to the industry and are working together to build strong, resilient communities where farming is profitable and empowers people into creating better infrastructure and farming development.
Agri-Business Development Co-operation
Uganda, 2019
The aim of this programme is to equip smallholder farmers who are part of Farmer Base Organisations (FBOs) with the agribusiness skills they need to professionalize and grow their businesses: leadership, governance, marketing, financial management and financial literacy. Backed by DFCU Bank and the Rabobank Foundation, this initiative has been implemented by the Agribusiness Development Centre, with whom Plexus has worked to reach over 60 FBOs across its operations.
dfcugroup.com/news
IDH – The Sustainable Trade Initiative, 2017-2020
Muape, Montepuez District, Mozambique
IDH and Plexus Mozambique collaborated on water conservation, hygiene and alternative income projects. Three dams were constructed for year-round water supply and horticulture outside of the rainy season. Additionally, a bund was built to reduce rainwater flow, helping to prevent houses from being washed away and retaining humidity in the soil at the same time.
Together with IDH, Plexus Mozambique also supported women savings clubs for women and crop husbandry initiatives focused on sheep and chicken.
www.idhsustainabletrade.com
Patiko Football & Netball Tournament, 2019
Patiko Sub-county, Gulu District, Uganda
Plexus sponsored the inaugural Patiko Football and Netball Tournament, providing support for the organising committee and various prizes for the winning teams. Sport is a unifying experience and served as an opportunity for the community leaders, in conjunction with Plexus, to raise awareness of the substantial rewards of sustainable cotton farming for farmers.
Catalytic Fund, commenced in 2012
Talalane, Maculane and Marameia,
Namano District, Mozambique
Created by the World Bank and the Mozambican government, the Catalytic Fund provides funding to projects that can significantly develop agricultural opportunities for smallholder farmers. Plexus Mozambique was chosen to participate in this programme, making innovative farming equipment available to 11 farmer associations, each cultivating 180 hectares. The equipment helps to reduce manual labour requirements while at the same time driving yield increases and soil improvements. Furthermore, a crop rotation programme including the use of crop residuals materially improves the carbon content of soil and therefore its ability to support new crop growth.
www.worldbank.org
The Wash Project, 2014-2015
Cabo Delgado Region, Mozambique
A cooperation between OTTO, CARE, DEG, BMZ and Plexus Mozambique. This water and sanitation project saw the construction and/or repair of 10 local boreholes across the Plexus footprint. In addition, sanitation facilities were constructed in 15 schools, benefiting over 5,000 pupils.
COMPACI, 2005-2017
Malawi, Mozambique
The Competitive African Cotton Initiative (COMPACI) was established in 2005 by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) and the German Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) working in conjunction with DEG, AbTF and GIZ. Up until its termination in 2017, the program supported 800,000 smallholder farmers across 12 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa in the development of sustainable cotton production verified according to the CmiA standard.
Plexus’ activities under COMPACI centred around 60,000 farmers in Mozambique and 65,000 in Malawi, with a broad spectrum of programs designed to enhance productivity of cotton and staple food production, leading to increasing incomes and improving living conditions.