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Precious Manomano Herald Reporter
Cotton farmers are geared for the marketing season which begins next week with farmers finalising preparations to sell their crop.
Most farmers believe that they will be able to access cash if they deliver their crop early.
The 2023 cotton marketing season launch will be held in Mahuwe in Mashonaland Central on Monday with farmers calling for timely payment of their commodity.
Until last year, when Government stepped in by ensuring payments were prompt, there had been serious delays and farmers now want automatic payment very quickly.
Cotton Producers and Marketers Association Mr Steward Mubonderi said there is a need to see the sector growing adding that it is disheartening to see a situation which discourages farmers in growing cotton.
He said it is critical for farmers to get their payment early, recommending authorities to pay a one off payment for each delivery unlike the previous seasons where farmers were given payments over the period of three to four months.
“We are happy that prices are set according to the grading system. This is crucial because high quality cotton will fetch higher prices. Early payments will enable farmers to embark on other operations, We appeal for AMA to increase clerks to avoid delays in payments. We are expecting a smooth marketing season where there is no side marketing.
“We are grateful for 85 percent currency retention given to farmers. What happened in the past two seasons should be the thing of the past and we hope that farmers will get their money immediately after delivering the crop,” he said.
The Government launched the Presidential Free Cotton Inputs Scheme to revive the sectors after production declined to 28 000 tonnes, the lowest output in almost two decades.
Cotton farmers said they are geared for the marketing season so that they prepare for the next season adding that there will be improvement in yield.
Stearn Maruza of Chiredzi said foreign currency and free inputs are the key motivators in cotton farming urging other farmers to come on board.
“We are very happy that farmers are getting their payments in foreign currency. We are looking forward to a favourable marketing season where we are expecting good prices for better quality cotton. Moreover, We appreciate this and next year there is a probability that more farmers will join cotton farming,” he said.
Smart Kambanje of Gokwe said farming is critical since it improves standards of living.
“Next year I am going to improve my yields. People should take it as a business. I assure you that next year l am going to make it. If l get inputs on time obviously a good harvest will be achieved. This season l am expecting huge amounts of money from my hard work,” he said.
Cotton is a strategic crop that is interwoven into the rural economy and indeed, the national economy, as it is a cash crop for farmers, particularly those in drought-prone areas. The crop provides lint for downstream textile industries and generates export earnings, while the cotton seed is used to extract edible oils for human consumption with the seed residue used in animal feeds.
Production of cotton can transform rural communities through the major cash crop and having huge benefits to the economy at large as a major source of cooking oil for local consumption and cotton fibre for export markets.
The intervention by the Government on cotton production through the Presidential Inputs Support Scheme was meant to revive the sector, which was collapsing due to low prices offered by merchants and other problems related to inputs.
Some farmers in cotton growing areas had abandoned the crop after prices fell and merchants had reduced input packages citing side-marketing by farmers, further affecting production
Lands, Agriculture, Water, Fisheries and Rural Development minister Dr Anxious Masuka, who will be the guest of honour at the opening ceremony for the marketing season is expected to lay out clear expectations on the marketing of seed cotton.
Agriculture Marketing Authority (AMA) chief executive officer Mr Clever Isaya said all systems go for the marketing of cotton seed.
“All systems are in place for the launch of the 2023 cotton marketing season. We have decided to have the launch in Mahuwe because we believe it is a farming hub of the white gold. It speaks to the high volume of seed cotton produced in this area,” he said.
Isaya emphasised that as the regulator, AMA has put a conducive environment to make sure the season runs smoothly.
“The issue of side marketing in the marketing of cotton is high on the agenda for us this year. This year, a number of initiatives have been implemented to curb side marketing among them is the deployment of a clean database and AMA clerks at all cotton buying points who verify all the details before any sale proceeds,” he added.
Zimbabwe’s cotton season runs in two phases: planting between October and January and a harvesting and marketing phase that normally runs from May to September.
Last year, the government announced pre-planting producer prices for strategic crops, with cotton prices pegged per grade, ranging from US$0,40 per kg for grade D to US$0,46 for grade A.
Cotton remains important sources of income for small-holder farmers owing to these cash crops being export revenue generators.
The Reserve Bank early this year announced that cotton farmers will be paid 85percent of their earnings in foreign currency as the government sought to boost production of one of Zimbabwe’s top forex earning crop.
Online Reporter