Fungai Lupande Mash Central Bureau
COTTON Company of Zimbabwe (Cottco) managing director Mr Pious Manamike has commended President Mnangagwa for including cotton seed packs under the Presidential Inputs Scheme, saying it had boosted the national cotton production from 28 000 tonnes in 2015 to 74 000 last year.

Mr Manamike said the national cotton production stood at 35 000 tonnes in yesteryears and they hope to surpass 74 000 tonnes this year.

He added that side-marketing of cotton contributed to the drop in cotton production.

“When the Presidential Inputs Scheme was launched, it was not a success during the first year due to climate change, drought, late delivery of inputs and other issues. Cottco bought 10 800 tonnes of cotton,” said Mr Manamike.

“The second year we managed cotton farming and the uptake increased significantly. However, we experienced too much rain, which was not good for cotton. Production increased from 24 000 tonnes to 74 000 tonnes.

“Yields were reduced due to boll rot, red boll worm attach and chemicals become ineffective. The national crop, however, grew by 164 percent and Cottco intake by 400 percent. This positive change helped in reviving Cottco, and we have employed 4 000 people from (the) 600 we had.

“In the 2017/2018 farming season, 385 000 farmers benefited from the Presidential Inputs Scheme countrywide. This translates to 800 000 families and a population of 1,2 million. The inputs have created 1,2 million jobs.”

Mr Manamike said their aim was to increase cotton yields, as farmers are managing 22 000 plants per hectare instead of 33 000 plants.

“Agritex and Cottco extension officers are helping farmers to increase plant population. Cotton boll per plant also needs to increase. We have availed 100 tractors to farmers to plant three to five hectares,” he said.

“We are placing oil extraction machines at all our ginneries so that oil becomes cheaper to farmers as well as stockfeed.

“We have seen positive developments in the cotton producing areas with businessmen confirming an increase in their businesses because money is circulating. People’s lifestyles have improved due to cotton production.”

Minister of State for Mashonaland Central Provincial Affairs Advocate Martin Dinha, urged farmers to stop side-marketing their cotton produce.

He added that the Agricultural Marketing Authority (AMA) was fuelling side-marketing by issuing licenses to unscrupulous people.