Online Reporter
Edgar Vhera
Agriculture Specialist Writer
STAKEHOLDERS attending the recent cotton to clothing value chain study validation seminar challenged contractors to clear outstanding payments for farmers and commit to make timeous payments for this year’s crop to regain farmers’ confidence.
The seminar was hosted by the Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries (CZI) in Harare.
Cotton Producers and Marketers Association (CPMA) chairman, Mr Stewart Mubonderi said ginners must pay farmers all outstanding payments for seed cotton and grade-based differentials for the past seasons.
“The time for restoration of confidence in the cotton industry is now and this starts with clearing all outstanding payments from previous seasons. Ginners must also commit to paying growers competitive prices on time this coming marketing season,” he said.
Mr Mubonderi said contractors must also timeously provide farmers with adequate inputs, preferably at marketing time, rather than at the end of October and early November as is currently happening.
“We should know when should register to get inputs and draw lessons the past experiences when seed was available for purchase at common buying points (CBP),” the CPMA chair added.
Stakeholders further lamented the continual decline in average cotton yields from around 1,3 tonnes per hectare in the period 1961 to 1979 to one tonne between 1980 and 1999 and the current average that is below 0,6 tonnes.
Among the factors cited for the decline in yields are lack of high yielding seeds and lack of innovation in the development and breeding of climate smart varieties.
“The quality of seed is poor. More research needs to be done to improve productivity.
“While the Presidential Inputs Programme (PIP) has helped farmers to continue production after the withdrawal of private contractors, there is need for the reintroduction of the credit input scheme,” Mr Mubonderi pointed.
Viability of cotton production is key for the development of the cotton to clothing value chain.
Zimbabwe Farmers Union economist, Ms Nyasha Taderera said: “Viability is important for the growth of the cotton sector, as some farmers are now diversifying to producing runinga and sesame not because they are easy crops to grow but because they get their money on the spot.
“Some have jumped ship, as they are still owed money from previous seasons. Motivation and the right operating environment are crucial for the growth of the sector.”
Southern Cotton Company managing director, Mr Caos Nzenze also voiced his concerns on the unavailability of cotton seeds in shops in cotton growing areas.
“Seed is not found in shops but only at Quton in Harare while its quality has been dropping. The country should consider growing high yielding genetically modified (GMO) seeds with high yield potential of around eight tonnes per hectare,” he said.
CZI chief economist, Dr Cornelious Dube said the cotton to clothing value chain is anchored on the seed cotton production node.
“Key limitations for the growth of the cotton sector are low output for value addition, over-reliance on ginning for financing, little value addition beyond lint as well as limited cotton by-product value addition industries,” he said. Seed cotton production, which initially rose 61 percent from 56 million kilogrammes in the 2021/22 season to 90 million in the 2022/23 term, declined to low of 13 million last year, as a result of El Nino-induced drought.
This year production is expected to significantly improve, as 203 875 hectares have been planted with the crop reported to be in a good stand due to favourable rains.
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