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Agriculture Reporter
The cotton industry is under threat as many growers continue to shift to tobacco in protest over low prices. As the number of tobacco growers is expanding each year, cotton production on the other hand is dwindling. There are more than 19 470 new farmers who registered for tobacco this season and the number is expected to rise further while cotton production for the past season failed to reach the targeted 250 000 tonnes. Only 150 000 tonnes of cotton were sold during the just ended season.
Zimbabwe Commercial Farmers Union, Mr Johnson Mapira confirmed that many farmers were shifting to tobacco due to the favourable prices.
“Farmers will continue shifting to tobacco as it is the highly paying crop at the moment. As long as cotton prices remain suppressed, farmers will continue to look for alternative crops of which tobacco is one of them,” he said.
Zimbabwe Farmers Union agricultural economist, Mr Prince Kuipa said by shifting from cotton to tobacco, farmers were making the rationale decision.
“Farming is a business and the farmer will only grow the crop which gives him profit,” he said.
“Farmers may abandon cotton for tobacco but they need knowledge on how to get the required quality otherwise they will not get good prices,” he said.
Agricultural economist, Mr Midway Bhunu said although cotton farmers were shifting to tobacco there is a technical aspect they have to consider.
“These farmers should consider their agro-ecological regions, investment in infrastructure such as barns and also the knowledge of growing the crop,” he said.
Online Reporter