Vusumuzi Dube
Vusumuzi Dube, Online News Editor
VILLAGERS in Binga District have moved away from growing maize and traditional grains to take up cotton farming which has seen them greatly improving their livelihoods with the Cotton Company of Zimbabwe (Cottco) saying they are targeting 25 000 farmers in the coming season.
The farmers, most of them smallholder, have been working with Cottco towards increasing cotton production in the Matabeleland region inspired by the Presidential Input Scheme on cotton production.
The district is fast emerging as one of the leading cotton producing districts in the region with a number of villagers now delivering considerable yields to Cottco.
Some of the villages that have taken up cotton farming in the district, include Chisiziya, Goko and Lusulu, with villagers interviewed saying they continued to work on increasing their yearly output noting the successes which they were experiencing.
“I stay in Goko Village, Ward 2, what made us venture into cotton farming was that we wanted some source of livelihood where as women, we can also assist our husbands in looking for money meant to put food on our tables and also pay school fees for our children. We started last year and we just got two bales but this year, we have experienced an increased yield.
“We are expecting just over 10 bales. To be honest this has really transformed our lives as we have seen that instead of recording the low maize harvest yearly, we now have something which can give us foreign currency,” Ms Sakhile Mpala.
At Zhomba Village market, Sunday News came across over 20 cotton farmers with their bales waiting for Cottco officials to come and collect them.
They all shared the excitement that they were finally reaping the benefits of venturing into cotton farming saying they were set to be paid in foreign currency from where they were going to be able to uplift their families.
“What we have discovered since venturing into cotton farming is that this is a crop that can help change our lives.
“We get foreign currency and Cottco is supporting us with all the required inputs, so all that is needed from us is the labour,” said Mr Mhlonelwa Ncube.
Commenting on the growth of cotton farming in Binga, Cottco corporate communications manager, Mrs Constance Makoni-Thodhlana said this season they were expecting 617 metric tonnes from the district.
“Cottco has made significant strides in increasing the number of farmers in Matabeleland particularly under our Lusulu Business Unit in Binga. We have a total of 16 320 farmers who are set to deliver 1 300 metric tonnes of seed cotton.
“Under our Zhomba Common Buying Point which covers some areas in Binga we are expecting 617 metric tons. This coming 2023/24 agricultural season we are targeting 25 000 farmers and we are quite optimistic as there is a lot of interest in cotton farming,” said the Cottco spokesperson.
Cotton farming has largely been practised by smallholder farmers in Zimbabwe with an average of one hectare for every farmer and production is mainly done in averagely drier parts of the country with considerable high temperatures and rainfall amounts averaging 500mm per annum.
Major areas that have traditionally been into cotton farming include Gokwe, Sanyati, Kadoma, Muzarabani, Mt Darwin, Chipinge and Masvingo.
Online Reporter
Bongani Ndlovu