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Edgar Vhera
Agriculture Specialist Writer
ZIMBABWE will on Monday celebrate World Cotton Day (WCD) on the backdrop an ambitious plan to raise cotton production from last season’s record low of 13, 5 million kilogrammes to 270 million this coming season.
WCD was first launched on October 7 in 2019, as an initiative of Benin, Burkina Faso, Chad and Mali with the celebrations now being held annually on this day.
This year’s commemorations will be in Cotonou, Benin, marking the first time the event will held in Africa by a country rather than an international organisation.
The event will be held under the theme: “Making cotton fair and sustainable for all, from farm to fashion.”
In the 2024/25 Crops, Horticulture, Fisheries and Livestock Summer Plan, Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development Minister, Dr Anxious Masuka said the country was targeting to produce 270 000 tonnes of seed cotton from 270 000 hectares.
“For this summer production season 270 000 hectares will be planted under cotton producing 270 000 tonnes of seed cotton with processed cotton seed expected to yield 43 200 kilolitres of cotton oil at an oil conversion ratio of 16 percent. The Pfumvudza/Intwasa programme is targeting 180 000 hectares while self-financed farmers are expected to plant 90 000 hectares,” he said.
For Cottco, the transformation strategy will be focussing on enhanced operational efficiencies, increased quality seed cotton production, value addition and ginnery upgrading/improved plant and equipment availability as well as improved brand management, said the summer plan.
The plan estimates a cost of production of US$248 112 000, with the private sector financing 33 percent of the hectarage. The 2024/25 summer cropping programme will be funded through public, private, development partners’ support and public-private partnership arrangements.
The proposed cotton Pfumvudza/Intwasa programme budget is US$127 656 000 and over ZiG3 billion (at the new rate).
Private sector cotton production will require US$120 456 000 and around ZiG3 billion (at new rate).
At least 6 750 tonnes of seed will be needed to cover 270 000 hectares at a seed rate of 25kg per hectare, a figure way below the current stock of 9 000 tonnes, which means there will be enough seed.
Government has established implementation modalities for the climate-proofed Presidential Cotton Inputs Scheme, which requires the disbursement of inputs through inputs distribution committees.
All inputs will be delivered to common input distribution points for their eventual movement to farmers by the Grain Marketing Board (GMB).
Cottco and Agritex officers will identify and select productive farmers for submission to the inputs distribution committees.
The list will be categorised into six classes: farmers who delivered seed cotton to Cottco (split as golden class – three hectares and above, silver class – one to two hectares and less), farmers growing cotton seed crops with Cottco, farmers doing cotton demonstrations, institutions venturing into cotton production (schools, churches and prisons), youth and women clubs venturing into cotton production and village heads, headmen and chiefs doing cotton production.
GMB and Cottco will ensure all farmers sign contracts before they receive the first tranche of inputs (planting seed and basal fertiliser). GMB, Cottco, Agritex and AMA will all capture lists of farmers issued with inputs.
Agritex and Cottco will follow up on contracted farmers to assess their progress.
Online Reporter