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Lovemore Zigara, Midlands Correspondent
ABOUT 98 percent of farmers who had abandoned cotton growing in the past few years have reverted to the crop after Government recently gazetted what they view as a favourable producer price.
A pre-planting cotton producer price of $0.55 per kilogramme was announced a few weeks ago. The price includes a 10 cents bonus on top of $0.45 cents per kg paid last year.
The Cotton Producers and Marketers Association (CPMA), a group that represents the interests of cotton farmers, says close to 98 percent of farmers who traditionally grew cotton in the lowveld and Gokwe, have registered their participation this season.
The organisation’s president Mr Clemence Gondo paid tribute to the Government for giving farmers confidence with good pricing.
“We welcome the producer price because it enables the farmer to go back to the field the next farming season. This is why this year we have got almost 98 percent of our farmers going back to the field because the farmer knows that they will receive free inputs, which cost $0, 15 and when they harvest they will get $0, 40 which is not deducted,” said Mr Gondo.
The Government is disbursing cotton inputs under the Presidential Cotton Free Inputs Scheme through Cottco. About 6 000 tonnes of cotton seed and basal fertiliser are being distributed. The inputs are enough to cover 300 000 hectares targeted this season.
However, Mr Gondo expressed concern that other cotton companies have not come out clear on whether or not they will also pay the $0,55 per kg, which the Government has gazetted.
“Our worry now is for the other companies especially the Chinese, whether they are going to pay the $0, 55 per kg because right now they are giving inputs on credit and when they do that they might pay $0, 40 per kg for deliveries. They will then deduct $0,15 for the inputs, which will leave farmers in a quandary,” said Mr Gondo.
Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development Minister Dr Joseph Made could not comment in detail on the issue, only saying that was being “worked on.”
No comment could be obtained from Mr Godfrey Buka, the director general of Cotton Ginners Association as his mobile phone went unanswered yesterday.
As a result of the low pricing regime the sector has in recent years experienced a drop in output. Last year 30 000 tonnes of cotton were harvested, according to Government statistics.
This is the lowest harvest the country has ever had. Some 43 643 hectares were put under the cotton last season from about 74 446 hectares planted during the 2014/15 farming season.
The downward spiral in output has distorted the cotton to industry value chain, thereby affecting firms in the textiles, footwear and oil expressing sectors.
Online Reporter