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Edgar Vhera
Agriculture Specialist Writer
THE Agricultural Marketing Authority (AMA) has extended the 2024 cotton marketing season that had officially ended on July 7 to July 31 and set new closing dates depending on the location of the various buying points.
At least 68 common buying points (CBP) will remain open but will close at different dates the furthest of which has been set at July 31. Farmers have since delivered 12 million kilogrammes of the white gold worth approximately US$3 million and ZiG14 million.
AMA chief executive officer, Mr Clever Isaya said while many CBPs managed to close by the stipulated date of July 7, at least 68 will remain open to cater for the late planted crop.
“Some areas in Mashonaland Central, Matabeleland North, Mashonaland West, Mashonaland East and Manicaland provinces will have their selling period extended to July 31, latest. Mashonaland Central had three CBPs, which had a one-week extension to July 13, Chiredzi region had 32 CBPs whose last date of sell has been extended to July 31,” he said.
Mr Isaya said Bulawayo region has six CBPs, which are to remain open until July 21, with Chinhoyi region’s nine CBPs also closing on the same date.
Marondera region has 11 CBPs that will close on July 31 while Mutare closes its seven CBPs on July 21, he added.
Statistics released by AMA show that 12 304 733 kilogrammes of seed cotton valued at US$2 953 136 and ZiG13 521 228 had been purchased by five contractors as at July 11.
Cottco accounts for the largest share of the purchases at 73 percent, after buying 8 941 719 kilogrammes of the crop valued at US$2 146 013 and ZiG9 825 733.
Alliance Ginneries is second on 13 percent, after buying 1 540 000 kilogrammes worth US$369 600 and ZiG1 692 281, followed by Southern Cotton with eight percent of all sales after procuring 1 038 607 kilogrammes valued at US$249 266 and ZiG1 141 288.
Agri Value Chain is fourth with five percent, after purchasing 570 000 kilogrammes worth US$136 800 and ZiG626 352.
Zimbabwe Cotton Consortium (ZCC) is anchoring the table on two percent after procuring 214 407 kilogrammes worth US$51 458 and ZiG235 604.
AMA’s report also shows that the Gokwe and Sanyati region completed their seed cotton sales by July 7.
Meanwhile, Cotton Producers and Marketers Association (CPMA) chairman, Mr Stewart Mubonderi said farmers welcomed the extension of cotton buying dates saying it would give them time to finish harvesting and preparing their crop for sale.
“We are, however, worried that there is a looming shortage of wool packs in areas such as Uzumba Maramba Pfungwe (UMP), Mutoko and Karoi among others. We call upon Cottco to speedily dispatch wool packs to these areas, as a matter of urgency as the crop remains exposed to risks such as fire,” he said.
Cottco corporate and communications manager Constance Makoni-Thodhlana, however, indicated that they have more than enough woolpacks.
“There are no shortages in Karoi farmers received. Farmers have since received them. We are still distributing them in Mashonaland East and Masvingo,” she commented.
Online Reporter