Agriculture Reporter
Cotton Producers and Marketers Association chairperson, Mr Stewart Mubonderi has said cotton farmers countrywide are ready for the 2021 marketing season, which is scheduled to start on 18 May, this month.
Mr Mubonderi said although cotton farmers were happy about the ZWL$85 per kilogramme to be paid this year, there was need for Government to reassure farmers that their 2020 outstanding dues will be paid by end of May 2021, as promised by the Government.
“Farmers are ready for the marketing season and are encouraged by the ZWL$85 per kilogramme which the Government promised. Farmers, however, need reassurance that their 2020 outstanding amounts will be paid by end of May as Government promised.
“Cottco owes ZWL$1.5 billion from last season and Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Resettlement Minister Dr Anxious Masuka has assured farmers that their outstanding dues will be paid by the 31st May 2021,” said Mubonderi.
Mr Mubonderi said that there was need for a Press Statement from the Ministry to reassure and clarify on how cotton farmers are going to be paid before opening of the buying points as most farmers want to be paid their 2020 balances first before delivering this year’s crop.
“Let me, however, assure the farmers that as per promise, the Government will pay them their outstanding amounts by end of May. Last year we had challenges regarding Ecocash payment system and that has since been resolved and now that the economy has also stabilised, I am optimistic of a good and encouraging marketing season,” he said.
Mr Mubonderi encouraged Cottco to provide enough packaging materials to cotton farmers for the smooth running of the selling season.
To date, 359 permanent buying points and 413 mobile cotton buying points have been established countrywide for buying purposes.
