dyton mupawaenda
Edgar Vhera-Agriculture Specialist Writer
OPTIMISM is reigning supreme in the cotton industry with stakeholders unanimously agreeing that the country can beat the 2012 yields of over 351 000 tonnes of seed cotton if the available funding is put to good use with only deserving farmers being given the obtainable inputs.
This came out at the 2023 cotton indaba hosted by the Agricultural Marketing Authority (AMA) in Harare recently where it was revealed there had been a 61 percent increase in seed cotton production from 56 million kilogrammes in 2022 to 90 million in 2023.
Cotton Council of Zimbabwe (CCOZ) chief executive officer Engineer Chris Murove said current levels of financing for the cotton industry were sufficient to increase production to match previous years. He said with the current funding trends, right farmer identification and timely payment of farmers, it was possible to produce more than 351 000 tonnes this year.
“Many years back, our cotton industry used to be vibrant, at one time producing over 350 000 tonnes of seed cotton, unlike what is happening now when we are barely managing to reach 100 000 tonnes.
“Availing adequate inputs to cotton growers with known production history will revitalise seed cotton production to yesteryear glory even under the current financing or input credit system,” Engineer Murove said.
Engineer Murove said rampant abuse of inputs, side production and delays in paying farmers were responsible for declining yields.
The 2022 AMA end of year cotton report revealed that cotton financing among all the contractors had increased 120 percent from US$42 million in 2011/12 season to US$93 in the 2021/22 season. Over the same period seed cotton production dropped 289 percent from 351 000 to 90 000 tonnes.
With current financing trends going way beyond the US$42 million availed for 2012, production volumes are expected to be higher too.
Cottco chief operating officer Mr Munyaradzi Chikasha said there was need to look at any season’s production in relation to what happened in the previous season.
“If you look at the 2012 cotton marketing season, farmers were well paid in 2011 with a kilogramme fetching about US$1, which incentivised increased production. In the 2020/21 Cottco did not clear farmers’ obligations in terms of payment of a subsidy of about $0,22 over and above the $0, 34 per kilogramme with the money not coming on time. The impact was felt in 2022. There is need for a financing model that ensures that farmers are paid on time,” he said.
The Government has over the years been increasing funding under the Pfumvudza/Intwasa system, introduced grade-based pricing system while the Presidential inputs for the upcoming cotton 2023/24 season will prioritise those farmers who delivered seed cotton during the 2023 cotton marketing season.
This was revealed in a recent joint press statement released by Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development Ministry and Cottco.
“Farmers are advised that the 2023/24 Presidential Cotton Inputs distribution programme must prioritise farmers who delivered seed cotton during the 2023 cotton marketing season. Agritex, AMA and Cottco extension services will work jointly to identify farmers to be supported. Coordinates of production units will be captured to allow Cottco and Agritex to inspect and assess crop establishment as part of the monitoring and evaluation of the use of inputs,” said the statement.
Online Reporter