By Christopher Makaza

ZANU PF Nyanga North House of Assembly Member, Chido Sanyatwe has urged cotton farmers from her constituency to make use of the free inputs under the Presidential Input Support Scheme to produce enough for sale as a way of fighting poverty and cushioning themselves against the impact of economic sanctions imposed by the West.

Speaking during the launch of the 2019/20 cotton Presidential inputs distribution at Nyamaropa Growth Point in Nyanga yesterday, Sanyatwe said farming was the only cure for sanctions if households take it seriously and produce enough to earn themselves extra cash while Government also gets the much needed foreign currency.

“Let us all complement Government’s efforts to fight sanctions through serious farming. Only farming will save us from these evil sanctions especially if we produce enough for domestic consumption and for export. President Emmerson Mnangagwa has a vision to transform our lives especially us from the rural areas, that’s why he is giving us these free cotton inputs so that we transform ourselves for the better.

“The new dispensation wants to resuscitate the clothing industry, so the first step is to invest in the growing of the white gold so that farmers produce enough for the industry,” she said.

Speaking at the launch, Cottco Operations Manager, Mr Munyaradzi Chikasha emphasised that the inputs were from Government and Cottco was only responsible for administering the programme meant to support vulnerable households.

Chikasha highlighted that Government’s intervention in the cotton industry had seen a steady rise in cotton output in the past three years with exception of the previous season, which was affected by a drought that also affected other crops.

Mr Chikasha discouraged cotton growers from immoral practices such as selling the inputs on black market, saying that was tantamount to sabotaging the Presidential programme.

“Some farmers are short sighted, they sell inputs without even getting to the field and as such, Cottco has devised a way to monitor the crop and provide remaining inputs after monitoring the planted crop to curb cases of illicit trade of inputs. We will give the farmers inputs like chemicals and nap-sacks after we are satisfied with status of your crop,” he said.

Speaking at the same event, the Cotton Producers and Marketers Association Chairman, Stewart Mubonderi discouraged cotton growers from side marketing, and said it prevented Government efforts to create a revolving fund that benefits the sector in the long run.

“Cotton growers should desist from conniving with some private companies that pitch up towards harvesting season and claim to offer better prices than Cottco which gave those inputs. It stifles Government efforts to continue assisting cotton growers that sell the ultimate crop to unknown buyers,” he said.

The State-sponsored scheme, which is running for the fourth consecutive year, is meant to help marginalised farmers into production of the cash crop to help uplift standards of living.