$45m boost for cotton farmers

Stephen Ephraem
THE Cotton Producers and Marketers Association is mobilising a $45 million package earmarked to rescue 190 000 cotton farmers through cattle
fattening. The initiative come out of the realisation that the majority of cotton farmers have not produced anything having been pushed out of business as a result of the 2015 poor pricing regime and the current drought.

CPMA vice national chairperson, Mr Morris Mukwe, said the project would be concentrated in the eastern Lowveld and Gokwe where most cotton producers were hit below the belt.

“Cotton farmers in arid regions have lost cattle due to unavailability of supplementary feed. In the context of the current drought, it is a fact that the only status symbol and source of livelihood for these cotton farmers is cattle and we need to intervene and help them nurse a breeding stock. We will advise those with excess herd to strategically destock and concentrate the resources to grow the breeding stock.

“We want to help farmers through cattle fattening. If we do not act to protect their cattle, it will be wiped out in the current drought. We are talking of small-scale farmers who are resource poor and out of business. If we don’t do anything to cushion them and their wealth we will further condemn them out of business,” said Mr Mukwe.

“We have identified a total of 190 000 farmers who are registered under our association to benefit from the funding. I want to make it clear that first preference will be given to active farmers. We are working around the clock because a number of banks and sponsors are interested to assist,” Mr Mukwe.

Mr Mukwe said poverty was one major cause of food insecurity and also represents an obstacle for the attainment of sustainable economic and social development for small-scale farmers.

The twin-evils of poverty and food insecurity are being made worse by dwindling investments in critical rural infrastructure such as irrigation equipment as well as other social and economic services.