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Elita Chikwati recently in Gokwe
Cottco will from this coming season increase input packages for hardworking farmers to boost production and increase export earnings.

This was said by Cottco managing director Mr Pious Manamike during a cotton stakeholders meeting at Gokwe ginnery.

Mr Manamike said farmers will also get the inputs early with distribution expected to start in July.

“We used to give farmers inputs for a hectare but this season we will increase hectarage depending with the farmers performance.

“We are happy with the performance of farmers in Gokwe who have continued to work hard. So far farmers have delivered 7 000 tonnes of cotton compared to 2 000 tonnes during the same period last year. We are still expecting more deliveries,” he said.

Mr Manamike raised concern over some farmers who were selling inputs meant for cotton production while others diverted the fertilisers and chemicals.

He said this was threatening the industry which had started to recover.

“We also have a challenge of fly by night buyers who do not sponsor the crop but come during marketing season. While there is nothing wrong with competition, we feel merchants should only buy the crop they would have sponsored. We have liased with the Agricultural Marketing Authority to ensure merchants stick to their quarters.

“Farmers should not side market the Government sponsored crop as this will defeat the purpose of boosting cotton production and foreign currency,” he said.

Mr Manamike said most farmers were now willing to produce the crop after realising the benefits of the Presidential Inputs Scheme.

“At first some farmers were speculative but now they want to produce the crop,” he said.

Some farmers complained of the use of plastic money which they said was not viable for them as they were charged fees when transacting.

Mr Manamike said Cottco was engaging service providers and also widening the choices of plastic money so that farmers could use the most convenient.

Midlands Minister of State, Cde Owen Ncube, urged farmers to embrace the use of plastic money and said this was not new in Africa.

He also discouraged farmers from side marketing the cotton funded by Government as this would affect economic recovery.

“Government is giving you inputs for free so you should not side market the crop. We want to generate foreign currency.

“I am glad that nearly half of the cotton comes from Gokwe North and Gokwe South. We are aware there are some farmers who sell inputs and they should be arrested. Plastic money is not new in Africa. In most countries people do not use cash. We should continue using plastic money until we have our own currency. There is going to be competition as Cottco has roped in more service providers. Soon those illegally charging you extra charges for using plastic money will stop,” he said.

He said the introduction of the Presidential free cotton inputs had improved the livelihoods of Gokwe people and urged Cottco to increase value addition to increase income and create employment.