Chronicle Editor
GOVERNMENT will avail US$30 million to enable the Cotton Company of Zimbabwe (Cottco) to pay for deliveries made by farmers during the ongoing selling season, an official said on Tuesday.
Speaking to journalists after a meeting with farmers’ representative unions, Cottco board chair Mr Sifelani Jabangwe said the funds would be adequate to cover outstanding payments and future deliveries.
“The consultations for cotton we have been having have been happening at the highest level, and as an outcome of today’s (Tuesday) Cabinet meeting, Cottco will be funded (up to US) $30 million which will cover the balance of the payments that need to go to farmers.
“Certainly we would like to thank the government for that,” he said.
“As we indicated, the banks do not have the liquidity but the Government saw it fit that this is a very important crop and it’s important that with the great work done by growers, it’s important that they get paid.”
In an interview, Zimbabwe Farmers’ Union executive director Mr Paul Zakariya thanked the Government for the timeous release of payment for cotton deliveries.
“This is a welcome gesture and we believe this has come through so that all the cotton that was produced under the presidential input scheme is paid for. We hope Cottco delivers so that our farmers get this money as soon as possible,” he said.
Mr Stewart Mubonderi of the Cotton Producers Association said: “It is critical that the payments are delivered quickly because it was long overdue.”
Cotton Growers Association of Zimbabwe national chairman, Mr Clemence Gondo said Cottco had assured that growers would start receiving payments for delivered cotton during the course of this week.
Meanwhile, Mr Jabangwe said cotton deliveries have reached 54 000 metric tonnes to date, with more of the crop still expected.
“Since the onset of the marketing season, deliveries to date are 54 000 metric tonnes. The target for this year is 96 000 metric tonnes and we still expect that we will be able to achieve this target because the challenges we have been experiencing include those issues of payment that we were discussing which will enable farmers to deliver as well,” he said.
The Government introduced a number of support programmes such as the Presidential Input Scheme and Pfumvudza/Intwasa through which farmers are given seed, fertilisers and chemicals for free, to boost production. The introduction of support and competitive prices have seen many farmers returning to grow cotton after having abandoned it in favour of other cash crops such as tobacco, whose marketing was orderly and prices attractive. — New Ziana.
Online Reporter