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Edgar Vhera, Agriculture Specialist Writer
THE Cotton Company of Zimbabwe (Cottco) will take delivery of a 60-tonne oil expressing plant from a Chinese partner in the first or second quarter of this year, as prospects for a good harvest loom.
Cottco acting chief executive Mr Rockie Mutenha yesterday said during an update on the present cotton planting season: “On oil expression and green energy projects, Cottco is acquiring a 60-tonne oil expressing plant from a Chinese firm, and the plant will be stationed in Gokwe.
“We chose Gokwe because it has the highest throughput for factory processing and population. We expect the plant to be delivered in the first or second quarter of 2025.”
The green energy project aims to power the Muzarabani ginnery, which is experiencing electricity challenges, causing a lack of ginning for more than five hours a day.
Mr Mutenha said: “We expect to generate more energy than we require, with excess power channelled into the national grid for consumption by other electricity users in Muzarabani.
“The project has not yet taken off as we are in discussions with financial and technical partners, but it will take place this year.”
Turning to the present season, Mr Mutenha said Cottco introduced a farmer classification system to enhance input distribution to the growers. 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 for 4ha or more of cotton, silver for between 1ha and 3ha, and bronze for less than 1ha or practicing Pfumvudza/Intwasa.”
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.
The crop stages indicated a very late crop, with the bulk of it not yet reaching the productive stage.
“About 12 percent of the crop has just emerged, having been planted late; 31 percent is between two and four pair leaves; 32 percent is between four and six leaves; 18 percent is squaring; seven percent is at flowering to ball formation stages; and one percent is 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.
Cottco paid 100 percent of the foreign currency payments due from last year, being 75 percent of the value, but the 25 percent of the intake of US$400 000 to be paid in local currency was outstanding.
“We aim to clear the balance before the commencement of the 2025 marketing season,” he said.
Meanwhile, Cotton Producers and Marketers Association (CPMA) chairman, Mr Stewart Mubonderi, said that farmers were worried about outstanding payments for seed cotton delivered to Cottco prior to the last season.
“Cottco owes growers US$5,7 million for the 2022-2023 crop. For the 2023-2024 crop, some farmers are still owed their foreign and local currency payments. Farmers have also not been paid their grade-based differential payments,” he said.
Mr Mubonderi expressed concern that the seed cotton delivered at some common buying points had not yet been collected, making it difficult for the payment of grade-based price differentials.
Online Reporter