Zimbabwe to earn $240mn from cotton
Cotton could help Zimbabwe make over $240 million during the 2010-11 summer marketing season, according to the country’s Ministry of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development.
Cotton cultivators in the country are aiming to produce at least 300,000 tons of lint this year, more than last year’s production of 270,000 tons.
During a meeting held for industry stakeholders, permanent secretary, Ngoni Masoka, read a speech on behalf of the Minister of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development, Dr Joseph Made, in which the Minister stated that the industry should target growth by raising production.
Dr Made said that Zimbabwe is likely to earn more than $240 million from cotton during the current season. However, he also stated that he wanted to see more work being done on the side of production, and that, since independence, cotton has remained an important tool for rural development.
David Machingaidze, managing director of the Cotton Company of Zimbabwe, whose company employs 108,000 cotton cultivators on contract basis, asked the cultivators to accurately grade their cotton so as to make the most of increasing lint prices.
Cotton cultivators and ginners in Zimbabwe recently started discussions to arrive at a feasible price for the crop, so as to resolve a disagreement over prices.
