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Precious Manomano Herald Reporter
Cotton farmers have recorded high yields this season driven by the Presidential Inputs Scheme with nearly 350 000 farmers contracted to grow cotton last year and planted about 250 000 hectares.
Running for the eighth straight season, the State-assisted scheme has seen cotton production recovering.
More than 360 000 farmers benefited from free inputs under the scheme, running for eight consecutive years. Under the scheme, farmers get free basal and top dressing fertiliser, seed as well as chemicals.
Farmers have been receiving free cotton inputs under the scheme as part of efforts to increase the country’s cotton production and revive the industry which had almost collapsed.
Traditionally, Gokwe was the major producer of the crop, but the industry had almost collapsed due to a myriad of challenges that included low prices, high cost of production and side marketing.
In recent years, the Lowveld has become a force to reckon with, as production has been slowly increasing.
The 2023 cotton marketing season launch was held in Mahuwe in Mashonaland Central in May, with farmers calling for timely payment of their produce.
Cotton Producers and Marketers Association Mr Steward Mubonderi said deliveries are now picking and the sector is growing, adding that it is disheartening to see a situation which discourages farmers in growing cotton.
He said the Government will pay farmers all outstanding payments this week.
Mr Mubonderi said it is critical for farmers to get their payment early, recommending authorities to pay once off unlike the previous seasons where farmers were given payments over the period of three to four months.
“We are happy that this year’s output is high compared to the previous season and prices are set according to the grading system. This is crucial because high quality cotton will fetch higher prices.
“Early payments will enable farmers to embark on other operations. We are grateful for 85 percent currency retention given to farmers. What happened in the past two seasons should be the thing of the past and we appeal for authorities to speed up payments,” he said.
Mr Mubonderi said cotton growing has transformed majority of farmers in marginalised areas
The Government launched the Presidential Free Cotton Inputs Scheme in 2015 in a bid to revive the sectors after production declined to 28 000 tonnes, the lowest output in almost two decades.
Recently, Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development Dr Anxious Masuka emphasised that farmers should get a decent return and timely payment for their commodity.
Unlike the previous seasons when some farmers were not paid on time; growers were receiving their payments upon delivery of their crop this season.
Dr Masuka urged farmers to increase hectares in cotton farming. Government wants more ginneries and oil expressing plants nearer farmers, and a third spinning company to take up more of the lint to ensure value addition in line with the National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1).
He said in August, they were targeting to install machinery to process cotton seeds into cooking oil in cotton growing areas such as Gokwe, Checheche and Mahuwe.
Cotton farmers said they are geared for the marketing season so that they prepare for the next season adding that there will be improvement in yield.
Mr Stearn Maruza of Chiredzi said foreign currency and free inputs are the key motivators in cotton farming urging other farmers to come on board.
“We are very happy that farmers are getting their payments in foreign currency. We are looking forward to a favourable marketing season where we are expecting good prices for better quality cotton.
“Moreover, we appreciate this and next year there is a probability that more farmers will join cotton farming,” he said.
Mr Smart Kambanje of Gokwe said farming is critical since it improves standards of living. Next year I am going to improve my yields.
“People should take it as a business. I assure you that next year I am going to make it. If I get inputs on time obviously a good harvest will be achieved. This season I am expecting huge amounts of money from my hard work,” he said.
Farmers who spoke to The Herald in Mbire district in Mahuwe area said they were happy with cotton prices, adding that the Government’s efforts to provide free inputs was greatly appreciated.
Mr Never Kahondo of Zhangumwa village said timeous payments and the increase of foreign currency retention was a big motivator in cotton farming, adding that this season he was aiming higher than the previous seasons.
“Government is doing well in remembering farmers in rural areas. This season l want to increase the hectares. I sold 20 bales so far and I was given all my money, no later payments. I am grateful, we were given all inputs including chemicals for spraying,” he said.
Mr Shuma Matope of Pabandi Village in Mahuwe applauded the Government for interfering to ensure that they were paid on time.
“Prices are fair,” he said.
“I was given all my money. Seeds, fertilisers and other inputs l received them for free. All what is needed is my hands to process planting and harvesting. This is my first time to be given cash just after delivery
Cotton is a strategic crop that is interwoven into the rural economy and indeed, the national economy, as it is a cash crop for farmers, particularly those in drought-prone areas. The crop provides lint for downstream textile industries and generates export earnings, while the cotton seed is used to extract edible oils for human consumption with the seed residue used in animal feeds.
Production of cotton can transform rural communities through the major cash crop and having huge benefits to the economy at large as a major source of cooking oil for local consumption and cotton fibre for export markets.
The intervention by the Government on cotton production through the Presidential Inputs Support Scheme was meant to revive the sector, which was collapsing due to low prices offered by merchants and other problems related to inputs.
Some farmers in cotton growing areas had abandoned the crop after prices fell and merchants had reduced input packages citing side-marketing by farmers, further affecting production.
Zimbabwe’s cotton season runs in two phases: planting between October and January and a harvesting and marketing phase that normally runs from May to September.
Last year, the Government announced pre-planting producer prices for strategic crops, with cotton prices pegged per grade, ranging from US$0,40 per kg for grade D to US$0,46 for grade A.
Cotton remains important sources of income for small-holder farmers owing to these cash crops.
Online Reporter