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Leonard Ncube, Senior Reporter
MATABELELAND North Province is geared for an agricultural boom as Government plans to introduce large-scale cotton growing in the province.
The cash crop has over the years been grown in parts of Binga, Umguza and Nkayi while there are a few cotton farmers in Lupane district. Minister of State for Matabeleland North Province Cain Mathema said plans were underway to officially launch the programme in Tsholotsho from where it would spread into other areas in the province.
He said this was part of the Command Agriculture programme and would see a processing plant being opened by the Cotton Company of Zimbabwe (Cottco) in the provincial capital Lupane.
“We are working with Cottco where we will be formally commissioning cotton growing in the province. We will be launching the programme in Dibutibu in Tsholotsho district on a date to be advised as we want every place in the province to grow cotton,” said Minister Mathema.
Minister Mathema said the aim was to ensure sustainability around the province as well as create employment.
“The idea is that we should have a ginnery in Lupane where Cottco will be providing assistance with inputs and transport to farmers. Cotton was once grown in Tsholotsho and it will be a matter of reviving it. Yes, we can say this is part of Command Agriculture and we don’t want farmers to sell to any other company besides Cottco which will provide them with these inputs. We expect that Lupane being the provincial capital will tremendously grow out of this initiative,” he said.
The few farmers that have been growing cotton in Jibajiba, Gomoza, parts of Jotsholo and Lake Alice in Lupane have been selling to Binga and Manoti in Gokwe. Member of Parliament for Lupane East Cde Sithembile Gumbo said the programme was a welcome development.
“We are hoping for the best as this will empower farmers. We have many places that can grow cotton and once the programme is launched we want farmers to really take it seriously,” she said.
An official from Cottco head office in Harare, who requested anonymity, said plans were at an advanced stage to set up a depot in Lupane.
Some inputs have already been delivered to Lupane in anticipation of the cotton growing programme launch. -@ncubeleon
Online Reporter