daniel chigunwe
Edgar Vhera
Agriculture Specialist Writer
THE six registered cotton contractors for the 2024/25 agriculture season have so far distributed seed enough to cover 81 percent of the national hectarage of 278 750, the Agricultural Marketing Authority (AMA) has revealed.
Statistics released by the authority recently indicate that as of February 6, all six contractors had disbursed 3 915 200 kilogrammes of cotton seed with the capacity to cover 226 080 hectares to 158 551 growers.
The contractors have contracted farmers to produce 226 080 hectares of cotton with the latter planting 203 875 hectares to date.
The tripartite of Alliance, Agri Value Chain (AVC) and Zimbabwe Cotton Consortium (ZCC) have since surpassed their targeted hectarage.
Growers contracted by Alliance, AVC, Cangrow and Southern Cotton Company (SCC) have planted a hectarage that is commensurate with their issued seed while those contracted by Cottco and ZCC have planted a smaller area than their potential at 84 and 91 percent respectively.
The country’s largest contractor, Cottco, disbursed inputs to 111 754 growers eclipsing its initial target of 104 500. However, its contracted area of 129 614 hectares falls short of its target of 150 000.
Cottco introduced a farmer classification system to enhance input distribution to the growers in the 2024/25 agriculture season.
Cottco acting chief executive officer, Mr Rockie Mutenha recently said farmers were categorised into groups based on their historical performance in terms of production, productivity and loyalty in deliveries to Cottco.
“We have three classes: gold (four hectares or more), silver (between one and three hectares), and bronze (less than one hectare or practicing Pfumvudza/Intwasa).
“Additionally, Cottco has engaged youth, women’s clubs, national institutions like agriculture colleges, schools, churches, and prisons, involving them in cotton production,” he added.
Mr Mutenha highlighted that farmers were receptive to the system as it provided them with support commensurate with their production level and eliminated the abuse of inputs.
He said the crop stages indicate a very late crop, with the bulk of it not yet at the productive stage.
“About 12 percent of the crop has just emerged, having been planted late with 31 percent still between two and four pair leaves, 32 percent between four and six leaves, 18 percent squaring, another seven percent at flowering to ball formation stages with one percent at full ball formation.
“The crop is healthy, and a good harvest is expected if it continues to rain into February and March,” the Cottco boss said.
Cotton Ginners’ Association chairman, Mr Jonas Chindanya concurred that the crop was in a healthy condition.
“The crop is at various stages of growth as a result of different planting times caused by delayed and staggered rainfall pattern across the country.”
Online Reporter