Zimpapers Logo

Dr Made

Tawanda Mangoma in Chiredzi
Cotton farmers have appealed to Government to increase inputs support extended under the Presidential Input Support Scheme to boost production of the crop that has potential to earn the country millions of dollars in hard currency. The appeal comes as Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development Minister Dr Joseph Made has already ordered the Cotton Company of Zimbabwe (Cottco) to give each household inputs package enough to cover a hectare.

Cotton Producers and Marketers Association chairman Mr Steward Mubonderi yesterday said farmers wanted Government to reward productive farmers. He said most farmers, especially in major cotton growing areas such as Chiredzi, Gokwe and Checheche, were prepared to double the total hectarage under cotton in the current farming season.

“We are undertaking a nationwide tour in which we are meeting our members whom we continue to urge to fully utilise inputs which they received from Government,” said Mr Mubonderi.

“However, in all this joy, farmers are appealing to Government to increase the inputs support so that they can get enough to cover more than the current maximum of a hectare. Most of these farmers are now expert cotton farmers and know that a bigger hectarage translates to higher returns.”

Mr Mubonderi said some farmers had invested a lot of money in modern cotton farming equipment, enhancing their capacity to grow cotton on bigger hectarage.

“Some farmers have invested in equipment that has already transformed them into large scale cotton producers. It would be better if cotton farmers are vetted and those with capacity can be supported to grow cotton on five hectares or more,” he said.

Government this season set aside $60 million to support about 400 000 cotton growers countrywide under the Presidential Inputs Support Scheme in the 2017-18 farming season. Zimbabwe has the potential to produce 600 000 tonnes of cotton per annum, but output of the crop has been declining over the years.

Last season, cotton production increased by nearly 286 percent mainly because of support extended to communal farmers under the Presidential Inputs Support Scheme. Preliminary reports indicate that about 270 000 farmers have since registered to grow cotton in the 2017 /18 agricultural season.