by Christopher Makaza
Cotton Producers and Marketers Association Chairman Steward Mubonderi has revealed that the cotton crop situation countrywide is pleasing despite the erratic rainfall that the country received, highlighting that cotton deliveries this marketing season are likely to surpass that of last year.
Mubonderi revealed that they are expecting around 170 000 tonnes this year compared to 70000 tonnes delivered last year.
“Generally the crop situation countrywide is pleasing and we are expecting better harvests compared to last season, especially in areas like Gokwe Nembudziya and Sanyati where some farmers have already started harvesting their white gold.
“We have areas like Checheche, Makonde, and other parts of Mashonaland Central where the crop is not yet ripe but in good state. The crop still needs top dressing and I am happy that top dressing fertiliser from the Presidential Input Support Scheme is still being delivered to such areas” he said.
Mubonderi highlighted that the increase in cotton production is attributed to the distribution of free cotton inputs under the Presidential Input Support Scheme which is administered by Cottco on behalf of Government. He said more than 400 000 farmers get assistance under the programme every year.
The programme, launched in 2015, has helped the resuscitation of the cotton industry with output growing from 28 000 tonnes, the lowest in nearly two decades, to 143 000 tonnes in 2018. Since its launch, the scheme has attracted a lot of new cotton farmers hence the increase in output.
A marked improvement in prices that were paid to farmers by contractors or buyers in 2019, which reached ZW$3.30 per kg last marketing season together with the 10 percent export incentive given to cotton farmers, also incentivised farmers to take up cotton production in the 2019-2020 season.
Mubonderi however said his Association was worried about the issue of side marketing as the marketing season approaches and has already raised a red flag over the issue, saying it was counterproductive and worked against revival of the industry.
“As the representatives of cotton farmers, we are concerned with side marketing, which is creating confusion, conflict and despondency in the cotton industry. Our investigation has revealed that farmers are using another farmers’ name to sell to a particular company (name supplied) where they are not contracted. I therefore call upon the government, through Agricultural Marketing Authority (AMA) to ensure proper enforcement of the marketing regulations.
“We urge the authorities to make sure such practices are eliminated through proper enforcement of regulations. This will give confidence to other companies to invest,” he said.
Side marketing takes place when parties to the contract violate the agreement, either when a farmer sells to other merchants or when a cotton merchant buys from farmers it has not contracted.
Mubonderi urged farmers who are beneficiaries of the Presidential Input Support Scheme to deliver their cotton to Cottco where they are benefiting free cotton inputs.
“Cottco has done a lot for the farmers and they need to appreciate that. As I speak, thousands of chairpersons countrywide have received bicycles from Cottco. The parastatal has also purchased motor bikes for coordinators for easy access to cotton farmers, of which other cotton merchants have not done that,” he said.
