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The closing ceremony of the Beyond Cotton Project in Mozambique, held on 7 October, brought together authorities and representatives from various institutions in Brazil and Mozambique in a hybrid ceremony, marking the conclusion of seven years of cooperation that strengthened family farming and promoted the sustainable use of cotton by-products.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The event, held in the province of Tete, was attended by representatives from the World Food Programme (WFP) in Mozambique, the Manica Higher Polytechnic Institute (ISPM), the Tete Provincial Directorate of Agriculture and Fisheries (DPAP), the Mozambique Cotton and Oilseeds Institute (IAOM), the District Economic Activities Services (SDAE) from different provinces, as well as the Federal University of Lavras (UFLA), the Brazilian Cooperation Agency (ABC) and the WFP Centre of Excellence against Hunger in Brazil.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Among the results reported by participants are stories of life transformation. The beneficiaries who gave their testimonials were: Sirene Zucuchera Ntonga, from Cahora Bassa (Tete); Filipe Edueti Chicumba, from Barue (Manica); and Luciano Ant\u00f4nio, from Guro (Manica).\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0In addition to the gains from training and improvements in production through the acquisition of machinery, the reports highlighted cases of families who, thanks to the profits from sales of their produce, were able to keep their children in school, pay for their university education, buy a cow to ensure a supply of milk and transport for their agricultural produce, and even several families who were able to build their own homes with the income obtained and the strengthening of the local economy.\u00a0 <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n According to Riffat Iqbal, from ABC, the initiative achieved significant results, both quantitatively and qualitatively. \u2018More than 341 hectares were cultivated and about 60 tonnes of food were produced, notably okra, cabbage and lettuce. The actions also promoted the creation of productive backyards and strengthened the role of women farmers,\u2019 he said.\u00a0 <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n