adminAgriculture Reporter
COTTON growers exhibiting at the Harare Agricultural Show said they had suspended production until prices become favourable. The farmers said they incurred huge losses during the just-ended marketing season even though buyers kept on increasing producer prices. Matepatepa farmer Mrs Judith Chipadze said although cotton had been her preferred crop, she was switching to sugarbeans and soyabeans which were fetching better prices on the market.
“I like growing cotton. I have been depending on cotton production, but for the past seasons the prices were discouraging.
“I also need to make a profit, so until prices improve, I will grow other crops,” she said.
Guruve farmer Mrs Gift Ndoro said she would only grow cotton if the there is a pre-planting price.
“It is disturbing that after growing a crop you realise huge losses.
“Until a high pre-planting producer price is announced I will not grow cotton,” she said.
Bindura farmer Mrs Tabeth Karasamungu said: “The price is low, we use a lot of inputs, and weed four times, which is expensive.
“Can you imagine after using a lot of money the crop is bought at US0,30 cents per kg,” she complained.
Cotton production declined in the past season as farmers switched to other crops such as tobacco and sugarbeans.
This season, stakeholders have confirmed that the target of 250 000 tonnes of cotton would not be met.
Cotton buyers have argued that they did not have control over the price of cotton as it was determined on the international market.
Agricultural experts have urged farmers to increase yields per unit area if they are going to realise meaningful profits.
In other countries, cotton farmers are subsidised and therefore are not affected by the low international prices.
Online Reporter