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Lack of funding, low producer price and side marketing are some of the challenges affecting efforts to improve cotton production in the country.
In a telephone interview from Harare, Mr Zakariya said concerted efforts should be made to improve productivity in the sector.
“While the producer price of cotton is an issue, it is my personal view that the yield has been pathetic.
“The national yield for cotton has gone down to 590kg/ha from 3 000kg/ha in the past few years.
“We need to work on issues of productivity. Focus should be on crop management, agricultural extension work and our soils need to be tested to establish if they are limed properly. Most soils were last tested 20-to 30 years ago,” he said.
The current selling season failed to start on time following sharp differences between farmers and cotton merchants.
Farmers wanted producer prices of at least 75 cents per kg while merchants were offering a maximum of 30 cents per kg.
The farmers argued that the prices cotton merchants offered barely covered the cost of inputs they received under the impression that prices would surpass the previous season average of 80c per kg.
In light of the challenges farmers are facing, stakeholders in the sector will this week meet in Harare to discuss the value chain issues.
“We will have an all-stakeholders meeting on 22 August to discuss value chain issues.
“The meeting will be attended by farmers, Government officials, ginners, weavers and spinners, among others.
“The stakeholders are expected to discuss mitigatory strategies farmers should adopt due to challenges posed by changes in climatic conditions currently being experienced.
“It is at the event that stakeholders also need to devise measures aimed at improving cotton production,” said Mr Zakariya.
Analysts have said stakeholders need to be proactive to avoid shortchanging farmers on producer prices by analysing price levels, which are determined almost a year before the next selling season.
Zimbabwe remains largely a price taker for cotton because more than 80 percent of top grade cotton lint produced in the country is exported in its raw form due to lack of value addition.
The country produces the world’s second best quality of cotton after Israel, but has to follow international prices for the white gold as its value addition industries remain in crisis due to lack of capital and competition, among others.
Online Reporter