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MBABANE – Projections by the Ministry of Agriculture to increase areas under cultivation in the cotton industry from 1 200 hectares to 1 400 have failed.
This is contained in the first quarter parliamentary report by the ministry covering the period between April to June this year.
In a bid to achieve its goals, the ministry had planned to train 350 cotton farmers in the aforementioned period and also sensitise others about the potential of the industry so as to encourage them to get into cotton farming.
Out of the 350 farming population targeted, the ministry was only able to access 189 farmers. They also held six meetings with irrigation farmers’ groups, but results did not favour targets set at the start of the financial year.
“The weather conditions became favourable at the beginning of the season following substantial rains received. Farmers planted 1 200 hectares in total, which included 60 hectares of irrigated cotton and 1 140 hectares of dry land cotton,” read the ministry’s report in part.
Irrigation
The ministry further reported that its extension officers continued to engage growers under irrigation in a bid to entice more farmers to take up cotton farming.
The focus, according to the ministry, was on recruiting cotton growers for the 2023 season.
“The Board continued with its mandate of providing technical support to farmers through trainings and field visits. The focus was on crop quality during the harvesting period. Visits were carried out throughout the cotton growing belt to address farmers’ concerns,” it was stated.
The cotton industry has suffered lack of growth for many years, mainly due to an unappealing market price for the product.
Director of Agriculture Nelson Mavuso was called to give clarity on what incentives they sold in order to encourage farmers to get into the industry. A response had not been forwarded at the time of compiling this report.
However, the ministry’s report states that contract and price negotiations took place during the period under review. “Identification of markets and engagement of buyers took place during the period under review. Sales contracts for both lint and fuzzy cotton were signed.”
The ministry has projected a cotton yield of 800 metric tonnes this year.