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Tawanda Mangoma in Chiredzi
The Cotton Company of Zimbabwe (Cottco) has awarded Mr Ranganai Muzivirwa with a tractor, farm trailer and a three-disc plough all worth over $100 000 for being the best “white gold” farmer during last year’s cropping season.

Mr Muzivirwa of Ward 27 in Chiredzi West Constituency beat 400 000 other cotton farmers countrywide who entered the competition after producing a record 13,3 tonnes from his 3,5ha plot.

Speaking during the prize handover ceremony, Chiredzi district administrator Mr Lovemore Chisema said Government was serious about revamping the agriculture sector and was rolling out a number of initiatives to motivate both small-scale and commercial farmers.

“In the whole country, we have four business units under Cottco which are Sanyati, Honde Valley, Gokwe and Chiredzi. As of last season, more than 400 000 farmers participated in the Presidential Cotton Inputs Scheme in which Mr Muzivirwa came out as the best farmer of the year,” said Mr Chisema.

“Several multiple agronomic practices were considered in selecting the best cotton farmers and these are very vital towards the attainment of good yields.

“Cottco considered so many things before giving Mr Muzivirwa this prize.

These include the yield, cotton grade and tonnage per hectare. He managed to produce 60 bales with an average weight of 250kgs from 3,5hactres. This translated to 13 200kgs and this happened in the lowveld which is in natural farming region 5.”

He said Government, through Cottco, was committed to uplifting the lives of farmers.

He said it was important to reward excelling farmers as a way of motivating them to increase productivity.

Speaking during the same event, Chiredzi West legislator Cde Farai Msikavanhu commended Mr Muziwira for hard work.