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Tawanda Mangoma in Chiredzi
The Cotton Company of Zimbabwe (Cottco) has successfully re-engaged over 400 000 cotton farmers throughout the country who had abandoned production of the “white gold” five years ago in protest over low prices.

Besides low prices for cotton, farmers were also grappling with high input costs which made production of the crop less lucrative.

Cottco has been gradually assisting farmers to ramp up production with assistance from Government that has been extending inputs to farmers under the Presidential Inputs Support Scheme, with the company focusing on improving farmers’ average yields per hectare.

Addressing hundreds of cotton farmers at a field day in Chiredzi North’s Ward 17 recently, Cottco Southern Region business manager Ms Marjorie Chaniwa said her company was geared to improve yields and ensure Zimbabwe reclaims its position as a major cotton producer.

“Our goal as Cottco is improving the yields per unit area starting this coming season.

“We had witnessed a serious decline in yields as cotton farmers and cotton companies were grappling with low prices on the market,” she said.

“Government then introduced the Presidential Free Inputs Scheme specifically targeting cotton and this saw production picking up in the Southern Region Business Unit, which produced 1 300 tonnes in the 2015 to 2016 season before a marked improvement in the following season (2016/ 2017) when production rose to 15 660 tonnes.”

Ms Chaniwa said focus has already shifted to the coming farming season as Cottco seeks to consolidate the gains made over the past few years.