Govt urged to reveal new cotton price Zaka records bumper cotton harvest
COTTON farmers have urged the Government to announce a new producer price for this year’s crop to mark the beginning of the new marketing season that started yesterday.
The development comes as farmers in areas such as Checheche, Chiredzi and Bikita have already started delivering their crop to buying points.
Cotton Producers and Marketers Association chairman Mr Steward Mubonderi yesterday said cotton farmers were expecting a bumper harvest this year as they never encountered challenges with inputs.
“We are very much delighted with the quality of the crop we produced with inputs support from Government under the Presidential Inputs Support Scheme. Farmers have already started delivering their crop at buying points,” he said.
“Farmers are appealing to Government to announce a new producer price for this year’s crop.
“We believe if the producer price is announced quickly we will plan our activities properly.”
Mr Mubonderi challenged farmers to be honest and sell their crop to companies that financed them.
“It is that period of the cotton season when farmers would start to promote side marketing.
“I want to appeal to farmers to be very professional this season and make sure they deliver their crop to companies which financed them,” he said.
“If a farmer received inputs from company A, just pay back by delivering your crop to them since they helped you establish. Do not sell your crop to SMALL-SCALE cotton farmers in Zaka are expecting a bumper harvest this year and attribute the achievement to the Presidential Inputs Support Scheme.
Most farmers had abandoned the crop citing low prices.
Farmers countrywide have been warming up to cotton production after receiving input support from Government.
Cotton prices are also firming on the international market.
Mushaya Ward 27 Councillor in Zaka Cde Bernard Chinaka paid tribute to the Presidential Inputs Support Scheme for boosting cotton production in the district.
“Most farmers are very excited because of good prospects of a bumper harvest of cotton in a season where rains were good and most of us had sufficient inputs after getting support from Government.”
“Zaka used to be a major cotton producing area in the past before the situation got bad because of poor prices and many farmers are happy that the situation has changed for the better and future prospects are even encouraging,” said Cde Chinaka.
“As a result of this development, we
other companies.”
He said side marketing was a threat to the growth of the cotton industry in Zimbabwe.
“Side marketing is a cancer which seriously affected the cotton industry are expecting a bumper harvest from the white gold and this will definitely change our livelihoods.”
Cde Chinaka urged the Government to expand inputs support to farmers next season.
last season. Many farmers sold their crop to firms that had not supported them and this was very wrong because it has serious effects on the industry,” said Mr Mubonderi.
The Agriculture Marketing Authority
Government has been working tirelessly to revive the cotton industry.
The crop has potential to earn the country foreign currency.
Its production will also revive companies like David Whitehead.
is expected to issue cotton buying licences to companies this week in a move tailored to foil side marketing.
Last season Grade A cotton fetched 55c per kg, Grade B (50c), Grade C (45c) and Grade D (40c).