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Dr Made

Elita Chikwati Senior Agriculture Reporter
Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development Minister Dr Joseph Made has hit out at Cottco officials for making public statements that distabilise the sector.

In an interview, Dr Made said the Cottco officials should instead work hard and increase the company’s grading capacity.

“If Cottco is not careful, it will drive farmers away,” he said. “There has been a story on cotton being graded later and as the Minister of Agriculture, I de-associate with that. Cottco should avoid making public statements that may destabilise the delicate sector.

“The President wants to resuscitate the cotton industry and we should not create despondency. Cottco management should not make public statements without consultation with the minister. The sooner they keep quiet and concentrate on their work the better.

“Farmers are now becoming suspicious because of Cottco statements. Farmers are also rationale and we should not appear tricky. We must learn to sit down with unions, consult properly and work in a harmonious way of approaching matters because the President wants to resuscitate the cotton industry.’’

Dr Made warned the Cottco officials against making public statements that could scare away farmers from delivering the State-sponsored cotton and force growers to side market or smuggle the crop out of the country.

He assured farmers that cotton would continue to be graded on time.

“Cotton will continue to be graded,” he said. “We are just about to start another season and farmers should be treated well so that they do not abandon the crop. The cotton industry is not yet fully recovered.

“We are battling to ensure farmers get inputs early in case we have early showers. Cotton is important to augment the foreign currency earning in relation to tobacco.”

Dr Made expressed concern over reports that cotton farmers could smuggle the crop out of the country to sell to companies offering cash, saying the law would take its course.

“We want farmers unions to work closely with Cottco and resolve their problems,” he said. “We want cotton to be graded timely and Cottco should increase its grading capacity. Cottco should facilitate the wellbeing of farmers because if there are no farmers there is no cotton.”

Government has assured cotton farmers that it is working hard to ensure they receive their payments for the crop produced in the 2016/17 season.

The cotton was produced under the Presidential Inputs Support Scheme.

Dr Made said he was working with the Minister of Finance and Economic Development Patrick Chinamasa and Reserve Bank Governor Dr John Mangudya, for cotton farmers to receive their money.

“We understand the obligation is on us to make sure farmers get their money for whatever crop they produced,” he said.

“I am in discussion with Minister Chinamasa and Dr Mangudya to see how we can get cash resources for farmers. I want to urge farmers to understand that the cotton falls under Presidential Inputs (Support Scheme) and we will not leave the crop like that.

“The three of us will do everything possible to make sure farmers get their dues, including cash. The farmers unions’ leaders should always check with the Minister of Agriculture,” he said.