Zimbabwe: Farmers deliver 46 million kilogrammes of seed cotton valued at over US$13, 8 million

The article provides an overview of the 2022 cotton marketing season in Zimbabwe, highlighting the achievements and challenges faced by farmers and stakeholders. According to the Agriculture Marketing Authority and the Cotton Ginners Association, the season has seen the sale of 46 million kilogrammes of seed cotton, with expectations to reach 60 million kilogrammes, a 56% drop from the previous year's production due to late rains and early cold temperatures. This drop has not diminished the global demand for Zimbabwean seed cotton, known for its high quality produced by smallholder communal farmers under contract arrangements with ginners like Cottco. The article also touches on the liquidity challenges faced by ginners and the need for timely export permits to facilitate loan repayments and efficient marketing of the cotton lint. Despite these challenges, there is optimism for increased production in the 2022/23 season due to the Government's strategic interventions and initiatives, underscoring the importance of cotton as a key crop in Zimbabwe, particularly in drought-prone areas.