adminPrecious Manomano
Herald Reporter
Many cotton farmers are now getting more Government support, an initiative that will improve yields and quality.
This year 520 000 households, 30 percent more than last year, will be supported with cotton inputs under the Presidential Cotton Scheme whose climate-proofed Pfumvudza version was launched by the President Mnangagwa last year.
Speaking during World Cotton Day Conference in Harare, Agriculture, Land, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development Minister Anxious Masuka said there will be a total transition to Pfumvudza Cotton as a way to improve yields and ensure increased productivity.
“Our President recognises the strategic importance of cotton in the transformation of communities. As a consequence of Government intervention the number of cotton growers has increased from 127 000 in 2015 to over 400 000 farmers in 2021, and we plan to support, as Government, some 520 000 households this year.
“Government is increasing its shareholding in Cottco to 51 percent initially, continuing input support to farmers, changing the inputs distribution model, changing the agronomy support model to include farmer field schools, improving Cottco operational efficiencies, and seeking better marketing and market linkages. Some of these interventions are beginning to bear fruit,” he said.
Challenges such as poor payment to farmers, poor varieties, unviable prices, poor market linkages, and high production costs were affecting the growth of the industry and hence the direct intervention by Government with inputs and control of Cottco.
Dr Masuka said Cottco was expected to announce a pre-planting price to motivate farmers for higher production as the country aims to produce 250 000 tonnes in the coming season.
Measures to transform the sector must be implemented including broadening participation of the value chain, accelerating decentralisation of ginning, and value addition and beneficiation of cotton to transform communities.
Zimbabwe Farmers Union secretary-general Mr Paul Zakariya said farmers are the most important stakeholder in the value addition process adding that they need support and adequate inputs to achieve good yields.
ZimTrade’s operations director Mr Similo Nkala said Zimbabwe is one of the few countries where exports of all products have been increasing.
“If you look at the 2022 comparing to 2021 our export increased from US$4,4 billion to US$6 billion. We need to increase our exports to US$7 billion by 2023 and US$14 billion by 2030,” he said.
Speaking just a couple of days after David Whitehead Textiles reopened, Cottco board chairperson Mr Sifelani Jabangwe welcomed the resuscitation of textile companies.
Online Reporter