Faith Mhandu Herald Reporter

CABINET has urged cotton merchants to submit their costs of ginning per kilogramme as the cotton war continues.

In an interview, Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development Minister Joseph Made said his ministry had ceased taking information from Cotton Ginners Association.

He accused the association of being biased towards one or two ginners yet there are 14 in Zimbabwe.
“Cabinet has demanded to know the production cost of ginning per kilogramme. From what we have now, some companies are submitting very high costs of production, which then makes us wonder why they want to continue in ginning business.

“We have to look at each ginner, see their production costs and ask them why they are not willing to pay farmers better.

“They are the ones who charged high prices on inputs and now they are the ones who are passing the loss to the farmer,” he said.

Minister Made said Government was aware that farmers are now selling their cotton out of desperation.

“Farmers have no option; they are price takers because of the circumstances that surround them.”

Minister Made said although Government was willing to assist farmers, the key to the funds was the Finance Minister Tendai Biti.