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Outcry over cotton producer prices
Movement for Democratic Change (MDC)
June 27, 2012

Thousands of cotton farmers in Gokwe have expressed disappointment over the price of cotton, as ginners are offering $0.30 per kg as the price for the 2012 marketing season, resulting in them having a meeting with the Minister of Finance, Hon Tendai Biti at Chitekeke Business centre on Saturday to highlight their concerns.

Farmers reached a deadlock with buyers, as they wanted the price of cotton to be gazetted to between $0.85 and $1,00 per kg.

Gokwe-Kabuyuni MP, Hon Costin Muguti confirmed the meeting and urged the government to subsidise farmers as a way of motivating them. "Ginners are offering unprofitable prices and this will kill the agricultural sector which is the backbone of Zimbabwe. Therefore, government should consider subsidies," added Hon Muguti.

A farmer in the area, Mr Manyongodora Gokwe Manoti accused the Ministry of Agriculture of creating monopolies through Statutory Instrument 63 of 2011 that registered cotton companies.

Farmers underscored the need to come up with measures that protect them as their property is often confiscated to settle their debts when they fail to repay loans. Some farmers are even summoned and appear before courts.

In his response, Hon Biti said government is working tirelessly to ensure a gazetted statutory instrument with favourable conditions to farmers so that they do not complement farming operations with their salaries.

Minister Biti urged farmers to use genetically-modified cotton seed that will meet international markets and also advised the farmers to harvest the crop before its quality deteriorates. He implored farmers to learn from countries like India that have become competitive through the introduction of biotechnology mechanization.

Cotton is a labour-intensive crop and a farmer is expected to inject $500 including seed, insecticides and fertilizer per hectare. Farmers can harvest an average of 4 bales, weighing 200kg each, meaning that they cannot break even after selling their produce. Since the price of the cotton does not tally with the production cost, it makes it difficult for farmers to raise funds to buy inputs for the next season.

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