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Chenai Museta
AS the 2024/25 summer cropping season approaches, the Cotton Company of Zimbabwe (Cottco) has begun its grower assessment and registration to reach its target of 360 000 farmers for 180 000 hectares.
The summer season officially kicks off on October 1 2024, and Cottco has already started contracting farmers for the new crop.
In an interview, Cottco chief executive officer, Mr Rockie Mutenha said there has been a strong response from farmers, driven by prompt and timely cash payments during the recently concluded marketing season.
“We are seeing a positive response from farmers who are confident in our commitment to fair and timely payments. We are targeting a significant increase in cotton production this season and our main focus is on empowering farmers with the resources and support they need to achieve optimal yields.”
By the end of last week, over 96 626 farmers had registered and contracted for production on 112 294 hectares of land, surpassing the initial target of 90 000.
To ensure efficient input distribution and maximise yields, Cottco has implemented a new farmer classification system.
This system categorises farmers based on their production history and delivery records, with different levels of input allocation based on their performance.
The classification system includes farmers with four hectares or more of land under cotton production being classified as gold, those for silver on one to three hectares and those less than one hectare classified as small.
The system also includes Youth Clubs, Women Clubs, and institutions such as schools, churches, and colleges that engage in cotton production.
“By classing farmers, we want to eliminate abuse of inputs by beneficiaries who are not farmers but ‘traders.
“We want to ensure that bonafide farmers are the ones who receive inputs for cotton production,” explained Mr Mutenha.
Cottco will also be welcoming back farmers who had previously stopped growing cotton, providing them with support and resources to re-engage in the industry. Input distribution will commence in September, ensuring that farmers have access to the necessary resources to take advantage of early rains.
Mr Mutenha further emphasised the importance of farmers being present at the Common Inputs Delivery Points (CIDP) days of delivery to receive the inputs as other people will not be permitted.
Cotton Producers and Marketers Association (CPMA) chairman, Mr Stewart Mubonderi welcomed the improvements in input distribution, citing last season’s delays as a contributing factor in lower yields.
“While, drought due to El-Nino was a major factor to low yields in the just ending season, we believe late delivery of inputs had its part. As cotton farmers, we hope that input deliveries start now, we expect and look forward to improved distribution of inputs this year,” he said.
Mr Mubonderi further emphasised the importance of the assistance that Cottco provides to farmers and advised cotton farmers to take full advantage of the expected rains and make the most of the growing season.
Online Reporter