admin“A total of 59 706 660 kilogrammes of cotton had been purchased by buyers since the beginning of marketing seasons,” the statement said. AMA said buyers were offering prices ranging between US38cents and US48 cents per kilogramme. Some buyers are also offering transport to lure farmers. Zimbabwe Commercial Farmers Union vice president
Mr Johnson Mapira said deliveries were coming, but at a slow pace as most farmers consider cotton as bonus crop.
“Most farmers concentrate on cash crops such as tobacco and in fact cotton farming has declined due to the uncompetitive prices,” he said.
Mr Mapira said the country was not likely to meet the target of about 200 million kg for this season.
“Companies should also support research on cotton to boost the crop production which has decline,” he said.
Last year, 349 million kg of cotton were sold since the selling season started late in July due to a price impasse between growers and merchants. Government had to intervene and fixed the producer price at US$1,50 per kg although ginners refused to honour it and paid US35 cents per kg.
Online Reporter