Cotton production plunges 71pc

Business Reporter

ZIMBABWE’s cotton production plunged about 71 percent this year, the biggest decline in more than two decades, statistics from the Agriculture Marketing Authority show. The El Nino induced drought compounded by migration of farmers to better paying crops such as tobacco is largely attributed to the sharp decline in cotton output, previously one of the country’s major foreign currency earner.Cotton output fell to about 29 000 tonnes from 102 000 tonnes produced last year, AMA said in its recent news bulletin.In 1992, Zimbabwe produced 52 000 tonnes, the lowest yield since independence due to drought. Last year, the Government disbursed inputs worth about $25 million and the expected potential harvest was 132 000 tonnes.

“We were expecting a reasonable increase in production after Government chipped in but due to the drought, late disbursement of inputs and to a certain extent the abuse of inputs, resulted in low yields.

“However, we are expecting a good season and in some areas, farmers are already receiving inputs,” said an official with the Zimbabwe Farmers Union.

Cotton Producers and Marketers Association of Zimbabwe secretary Mr Stewart Mubonderi confirmed that farmers had started receiving inputs ahead of the next season.

“Inputs disbursement has started in most parts of the country and there is so much confidence among farmers especially after getting better prices during the just ended selling season particularly from Cottco,” said Mr Mubonderi.

While other merchants paid an average 36c per kilogramme, Cottco, the largest cotton company paid 45c. The cotton sector provides livelihoods to more than 400 000 families. This year, the Government will provide free inputs amounting to $36 million to boost cotton production.

At some point, the crop was referred to as “white gold” in apparent reference to handsome profits obtained by the farmers. However, the opening up of the cotton sector to new players was the death knell for Zimbabwean cotton.

From being one of global cotton’s top quality producer the sector has virtually collapsed. The success of cotton in Zimbabwe was built around the Cottco inputs credit scheme which started in 1992 and ensured that farmers received adequate funding, agronomic support and quality incentives.