Cotton is one of the major crops produced in Zimbabwe.

SEED cotton production is forecast to increase by 40 percent in the 2015/16 to 126 000 tonnes, mainly as a result of recovery in yield levels and the increase in area planted.

The Global Agricultural Information Network (GAIN) Report show that seed cotton production declined by 34 percent from 136 000 tonnes in the 2013/2014 season to 90 000 tonnes in the 2014/2015 season due to the drought conditions experienced during the rainy season.

This is the second lowest crop in the last two decades after 60 000 tonnes was harvested in the 1991/92 season also due to severe drought conditions.

“In the 2015/16 season, post forecasts a moderate increment in seed cotton area planted of ten percent to 210 000 hectares, mainly due to ginners and merchants’ anticipation of increased funding levels for contract cotton production as they seek business growth and improved utilisation of the excess ginning capacity.

Seed cotton production is forecast to increase by 40 percent in the 2015/16 season to 126 000 tonnes, mainly as a result of recovery in yield levels and the increase in area planted,” the report said.

The area planted with cotton seed in the 2014/15 is estimated at 190 000 hectares, a 24 percent decrease from the 250 000 hectares planted in the 2013/14 season. This is mainly as a result of the late start of the raining season, the reduced inputs support by contractors and the undertaking by some farmers, particularly in high rainfall areas, to produce higher value crops.

Cotton is Zimbabwe’s second largest export crop after tobacco. The crop is produced mainly by smallholder farmers that cultivate small plots of between one and two hectares under rain fed conditions.