Zimbabwe: Government to maintain observer role in cotton price negotiations

Government has said it will not set prices of cotton between growers and contractors adding that the authorities will only observe to see that the agreed terms are met. Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development Anxious Masuka revealed that government only set cotton prices to the farmers they give inputs. Masuka was addressing concerns raised by legislators during a Question and Answer session in parliament. Responding to concerns raised by MPs on potential exploitation of farmers by contractors, Masuka said cotton growers had the power to enter into agreements with the funder of their choice. "The Government does not set prices or conditions of how to pay. As Government, we receive from the contractors, the cost of growing cotton on a specific area, like a Pfumvudza plot," said Masuka. "As for the farmers that we give inputs, that is when we state the price that we expect to buy, but the other private contractors agree on the prices they are going to ...