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Business Reporter
THE country has missed the target of producing 250 000 tonnes of cotton, as only about 145 000 tonnes were sold in the just- ended cotton marketing season. In an interview, the Zimbabwe Farmers Union (ZFU) second vice president, Mr Berean Mukwende, said cotton production levels were low because of unfavourable rainfall patterns and low prices offered by buyers.
He said cotton farmers were now shifting to other cash crops.
“The marketing price determines the next season’s production, last season the price was low, it was pegged at 35c per kilogramme which is why this just-ended season had low production thus we failed to realise the set target. In the just-ended season, prices went up to 60 cents which is still low,” said Mr Mukwende.
He said it was important to increase prices so that farmers can be able to sustain themselves and be able to continue growing the crop.
“When we complain about marketing prices, they think we are cry babies but we also want the prices to be reasonable.”
He also said that there was need to increase support and assist farmers with inputs before the growing season starts.
“There is need to increase support level per hectare, last season farmers were given two bags of compound fertilizer instead of four bags and therefore the production level was low,” he said.
Mr Mukwende said cotton farmers needed a lot of support so that they could work towards reviving the sector which would contribute greatly to the whole agricultural sector.
The cotton industry, which is a source of livelihood for more than 200 000 small-holder farmers, continues to face several challenges ranging from lack of funding, side marketing, non-viable prices as well as unfavourable rainfall patterns.
Online Reporter