Farmers geared for the cotton marketing season

COTTON farmers are geared for the marketing season which begins next week with farmers finalising preparations to sell their crop.

Most farmers believe that they will be able to access cash if they deliver their crop early.

The 2023 cotton marketing season launch will be held in Mahuwe in Mashonaland Central on Monday with farmers calling for timely payment of their commodity.

Until last year, when Government stepped in by ensuring payments were prompt, there had been serious delays and farmers now want automatic payment very quickly.

Cotton Producers and Marketers Association Mr Steward Mubonderi said there is a need to see the sector growing adding that it is disheartening to see a situation which discourages farmers in growing cotton.

He said it is critical for farmers to get their payment early, recommending authorities to pay a one off payment for each delivery unlike the previous seasons where farmers were given payments over the period of three to four months.

“We are happy that prices are set according to the grading system. This is crucial because high quality cotton will fetch higher prices. Early payments will enable farmers to embark on other operations, We appeal for AMA to increase clerks to avoid delays in payments. We are expecting a smooth marketing season where there is no side marketing.

“We are grateful for 85 percent currency retention given to farmers. What happened in the past two seasons should be the thing of the past and we hope that farmers will get their money immediately after delivering the crop,” he said.

The Government launched the Presidential Free Cotton Inputs Scheme to revive the sectors after production declined to 28 000 tonnes, the lowest output in almost two decades.

Cotton farmers said they are geared for the marketing season so that they prepare for the next season adding that there will be improvement in yield.

Stearn Maruza of Chiredzi said foreign currency and free inputs are the key motivators in cotton farming urging other farmers to come on board.

“We are very happy that farmers are getting their payments in foreign currency. We are looking forward to a favourable marketing season where we are expecting good prices for better quality cotton. Moreover, We appreciate this and next year there is a probability that more farmers will join cotton farming,” he said.

Smart Kambanje of Gokwe said farming is critical since it improves standards of living.

“Next year I am going to improve my yields. People should take it as a business. I assure you that next year l am going to make it. If l get inputs on time obviously a good harvest will be achieved. This season l am expecting huge amounts of money from my hard work,” he said.

Cotton is a strategic crop that is interwoven into the rural economy and indeed, the national economy, as it is a cash crop for farmers, particularly those in drought-prone areas. The crop provides lint for downstream textile industries and generates export earnings, while the cotton seed is used to extract edible oils for human consumption with the seed residue used in animal feeds.

Production of cotton can transform rural communities through the major cash crop and having huge benefits to the economy at large as a major source of cooking oil for local consumption and cotton fibre for export markets.

The intervention by the Government on cotton production through the Presidential Inputs Support Scheme was meant to revive the sector, which was collapsing due to low prices offered by merchants and other problems related to inputs.

Some farmers in cotton growing areas had abandoned the crop after prices fell and merchants had reduced input packages citing side-marketing by farmers, further affecting production

Lands, Agriculture, Water, Fisheries and Rural Development minister Dr Anxious Masuka, who will be the guest of honour at the opening ceremony for the marketing season is expected to lay out clear expectations on the marketing of seed cotton.

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