Melody Mashaire : Business Reporter
COTTCO, the sole authorised buyer of white gold this year, has started buying cotton in different parts of the country. Cottco is buying the crop at a minimum 45 cents per kilogramme while regionally cotton is selling at around 30 cents per kilogramme. Zimbabwe National Farmers Union secretary Mr Garikayi Msika said the Agricultural Marketing Authority has established buying points nationwide and farmers sponsored by Government under the Presidential Inputs Scheme have started selling their crop.“The bulk of the cotton grown this year was grown under Government support while some farmers produced free cotton.
“AMA has already established buying points but unfortunately this season farmers will have to travel longer distances to the selling points as they are few.
“We are grateful to Government for coming up with a price that is more of a subsidy. The 45 cents per kg price is not the final price as it is a minimum price. After grading, farmers will be paid the actual price and receive more money, “he said.
Mr Msika said the Cotton Ginners Association has not made a pronouncement of the prices of cotton but said farmers could still negotiate individually.
“Farmers still have the rights to negotiate for better prices at the buying points. Farmers unions will not be present at the buying points and the farmers and buyers can physically assess the crop.
“Farmers who produced free cotton can sell to the buyer offering the best prices and we urge those who were contracted to honour their obligations,” he said.
Cottco is being funded under the Government Inputs Scheme during the 2015/16 summer cropping season.
Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development Minister, Dr Joseph Made said no one else will buy the Government sponsored crop because farmers were given a total package of seed and fertilisers contrary to what some contractors have been doing.
There will be a bonus to be paid to farmers as and when it becomes available. This is meant to motivate farmers to produce the crop.