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Blessings Chidakwa in Kadoma
FARMERS in Sanyati expect to surpass last season’s cotton production levels following timely intervention by Government through the Presidential Inputs Scheme.

This comes amid indications from Government and Cottco officials that there are no reports of side marketing of the crop in the area.

In an interview with The Herald, Sanyati district crop and livestock production officer Mrs Evelyn Ndoro said cotton production this year had risen due to Government support.

“We witnessed a significant increase in cotton production this year, which can be attributed to the Presidential Inputs Scheme,” she said.

“Our farmers were allocated the inputs and utilised them, except for a few who did not grow the crop out of scepticism over the producer price.”

Mrs Ndoro expressed confidence that the area will continue to see an increase in cotton production.

This comes as President Mnangagwa recently told thousands of people at a rally in Chegutu that annual allocation of inputs was set to increase from $30 million to around $500 million this year.

“Although we are not yet at yesteryear’s peak levels, we are confident that at this rate we will reach those levels sooner rather than later, with Government’s continued support,” she said.

Mrs Ndoro hailed Government’s intervention as having played a key role in reducing cases of side marketing.

“Only Cottco is buying cotton in Sanyati District at 47 cents per kilogram at various buying points,” she said.

“No cases of side marketing have been recorded so far and that is a positive development.”

Mrs Ndoro, however, said while Government is yet to announce this year’s buying price, it should consider an upward review to entice more farmers to grow the white gold.

“Cottco is using last year’s price of 47 cents per kg, but farmers are anticipating a better offer that will dissuade them from side marketing their crop,” she said.

Meanwhile, Mrs Ndoro revealed that other crops such as maize and groundnuts were affected by the mid-season dry spell.

“The early maize crop was heavily affected by the dry spell and in parts of Sanyati communal area, especially Wards 11, 12 and 13 there are fears that whatever they are harvesting will not sustain them to the next farming season,” she said.

“Groundnuts were seriously affected, too but we expect a fair soyabean harvest, especially the early crop that was planted in December we expect a fair yield.”