Online Reporter
Martin Kadzere
Zimbabwe’s cotton production has increased by 100 percent to 28 000 tonnes thus far this year, but the country is highly likely to miss its output target of 62 000 tonnes for the year, as the marketing season draws to a close, industry figures show.
While the shortfall would be a point of concern for the sector, the output represents marked growth from last year’s low of about 13 000 tonnes, following the severe impact of the El Niño-induced drought.
Cottco maintains its position as the country’s leading cotton financier, with an intake of 16 900 tonnes as of August 21, 2025.
The figures, which highlight Cottco’s overwhelming dominance, show that the State-controlled company’s intake is more than three times that of its closest competitor.
Alliance Ginneries secured the second-largest intake with 4 800 tonnes, followed by Southern Cotton at 2 500 tonnes.
Agri Value Chain and Cangrow recorded 2 200 tonnes and 1 400 tonnes respectively, while the Zimbabwe Cotton Consortium (ZCC) bought 350 tonnes.
Major cotton merchants have confirmed that the intake season is almost complete, with the companies now focusing on the ginning, the process of separating the cotton fibre from seeds.
An executive with a leading cotton merchant said that while a few bales were still “trickling in”, particularly from the lowveld region, they would not materially affect the national total output.
Analysts noted that the less-than-anticipated harvest for cotton highlights the ongoing structural challenges facing the industry, which has not performed well despite other major crops, such as tobacco and maize, registering substantial growth in output.
A significant obstacle has been the problem of delayed payments to farmers, which has demotivated many from producing the crop.
The erratic nature of the obtaining industry dynamics and its direct impact on the livelihoods of many rural households remain a key concern.
Despite the targeted production miss, the increase from the previous season is seen as a sign of potential recovery.
The sector, once a powerhouse, peaked in 2011 with a record production of 352 million kg, highlighting its potential to be a major contributor to the country’s economy.
While the current season’s output did not meet expectations, the substantial year-on-year growth provides a foundation for the industry to build on as it seeks to regain its former prominence.
“While the current season’s output may not have met initial expectations, the substantial year-on-year growth represents a crucial turning point for the industry,” said Mr Tobias Musara, an economic analyst.
“This recovery provides a firm foundation to build on as we collectively strive to restore the cotton sector to its former prominence, a vital engine for economic empowerment and rural development across the country.”
However, some critics point to a vicious cycle of poor performance that has plagued the sector, despite Government interventions. They note that the Presidential Inputs Scheme introduced in 2014 was well-intentioned, but its success has been limited by the other teething issues in the sector.
The scheme was designed to revive the industry after production plummeted to a mere 27 000 tonnes that year, the lowest output since the devastating 1992 drought.
Initially, the initiative brought a notable recovery, with production surging to 143 000 tonnes in 2017.
