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Conrad Mupesa–Mashonaland West Bureau

THE commissioning of Kadoma Cottco Ginnery’s delinter plant yesterday is a game changer expected not only to create employment but also help cut the import bill and increase cotton seed revenue by more than 200 percent.

Lands, Agriculture, Water, Fisheries and Rural Resettlement Minister, Dr Anxious Masuka said the plant, which separates cotton seed from lint, is expected to create at least 100 jobs.

About US$800 000 has been used towards the revival of the plant, which stopped operating over five years ago, forcing the Government to source cotton seed from private companies.

Speaking during its commissioning yesterday, Minister Masuka said the plant was going to support the Government’s Pfumvudza Cotton Support Input Scheme which begins this year.

Cottco targets to sponsor at least 500 000 farmers through the scheme to boost cotton output this coming season.

“That seed machine was not operational for five years and we have been purchasing seed elsewhere yet we have the in-house capacity to be able to do this ourselves.

“Its commissioning will see Cottco start producing their own seed and separate lint from seed that adds value to the cotton. 

“This has been possible through the Second Republic, whose agenda is to revive economy and uplift the lives of every citizen,” said Dr Masuka.

The revamping of the 15 000 tonne capacity plant, said Dr Masuka, would help Cottco and the Government to plan for the cropping season in time while producing quality seed for oil production which subsequently cuts on the import bill.

Cottco was getting US$60 million annually from its cotton seed with the plant now expected to increase revenue to US$200 million per year through improved quality.

It is also going to improve operations at the organisation while at the same time increasing farmers’ payouts.

“This is seed produced in Zimbabwe and additionally, we must look at higher yield producing seed, the reason why we are importing Mahyco hybrid from India,” said Dr Masuka.

“For our own seeds, we want to do sustainable intensification for the first time by introducing Pfumvudza Cotton in the 2021/22 season.”

He added that while farmers were lobbying for hybrised seeds like the Indian produced Mahyco, the nation used to produce more using open pollinated variety seeds and urged farmers to be business minded.

The plant has been down for five years owing to viability challenges prompting the Government to step in to support it with a target of increasing its shareholding to 51 percent from the current 37 percent stake. 

Dr Masuka also revealed that the Government was moving to set up mini ginneries across the country.

In her remarks, Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution for Mashonaland West, Mary Mliswa-Chikoka, said the revival of the plant spoke to the National Development Strategy 1 and Vision 2030 of an upper middle income economy, as it would create jobs and increase the province’s and national Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

“NDS1 is speaking about not leaving anyone or any place behind with over 100 people expected to be employed directly,” she said.

“Cottco is also going to process the seed.

The mini ginneries are also going to help people at the grassroots level and minimise transport costs.”

Cottco general manager, Mr Pius Manamike said the company was going to realise more from the delinted seed while separate lint would fetch close to US$130 per tonne.

“This is going to improve cotton production, increase farmers’ payouts and operations at Cottco. 

“The delinter was decommissioned five years ago due to low cotton production but we have revitalised it so that we further process our cotton.

“Our cotton seed should be sold to oil production companies in its best quality,” he said. 

Cotton Farmers Association of Zimbabwe president, Mr Stewart Mubonderi and Zanu-PF’s Kadoma District Coordinating Committee (DCC) chairperson, Cde Langton Mabhanga lauded the government for funding Cottco.