By Christopher Makaza.
In a bid to revive the cotton industry, Cotton Company of Zimbabwe (COTTCO) is currently on a countrywide mobilisation drive registering new cotton farmers in non-cotton growing areas, giving them free cotton inputs under the Presidential Input Support Scheme.
Targeted areas include Hwedza, Odzi, Gutu, Buhera and Birchenough Bridge among others.
In an Interview with the Harare Post, Cotton Producers and Marketers Association Chairman, Mr Stewart Mubonderi who is also part of the registration team, highlighted that the registration exercise is overwhelmed because of the free inputs that farmers are set to benefit under the Presidential Input Support Scheme.
“We are really happy with the way farmers are responding to cotton growing in Zimbabwe. Our efforts to revive the cotton industry are bearing fruits as more and more farmers are registering to grow the white gold each year. It`s not a secret that farmers are being inspired by the Presidential Input Support Scheme which offers free cotton inputs to interested farmers.
“So far, more than 7 000 new farmers have registered in Buhera and surrounding areas and we are expecting more than 10 000 new farmers to register countrywide,” he said.
Mr Mubonderi commended the Presidential Input scheme highlighting that it has to a larger extent transformed the lives of rural cotton farmers.
“We really appreciate the Presidential input scheme which has transformed the lives of many rural farmers and it is our hope that
Government will increase the inputs to cater for the growing population of cotton farmers,” he said.
Under the input scheme, each cotton farmer receives one hectare inputs which include 100kg compound L, 50kg top dressing fertiliser, 20kg cotton seed and needed pesticides.
Mr Mubonderi revealed that disadvantaged families will also benefit from COTTCO`s tillage programme where tractors will till a hectare for free, for selected farmers.
Mr Mubonderi emphasised that every interested farmer is free to register with COTTCO regardless of their political affiliation, dismissing claims by opposition political parties that the Presidential Input Support Scheme is a Zanu PF political tool meant for buying votes.
“This input scheme is not a political gimmick as some opposition party leaders say. It`s for every Zimbabwean who is interested in farming and is ready to contribute to the revival of our agricultural sector,” he said.
