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THE Government has set aside $52 million to support cotton farmers with inputs this farming season. According to Cotton Company of Zimbabwe managing director Engineer Chris Murove, 400,000 hectares would be put under cotton. Eng Murove revealed this during a meeting with cotton farmers in Gokwe-Nembudziya at the weekend. He said Cottco was ready to buy cotton from farmers at 45 cents per kilogramme, a 10 cent increase from last season.

“Cottco wishes to advise you that it will this cotton marketing season buy the crop at a minimum of 45 cents per kilogramme,” said Eng Murove.

“We have heard the farmers’ pleas to adjust the prices and we are glad to say that we are ready to do that. We have consulted widely and we saw it necessary to buy at that price.”

Eng Murove said inputs from the Government and a review of price would boost productivity.

Cottco promised annual bonus for farmers who sell their cotton to the company if it makes profit.

Gokwe-Nembudziya Member of Parliament Justice Mayor Wadyajena (Zanu-PF), who was the guest of honour at the event, welcomed Cottco’s price review.

“This is a Government initiative and I would like to encourage you to support it.

“It is sad that in the past you have been taken for a ride by some unscrupulous buyers.

“A lot of buyers have been swindling you of your hard labour through some fraudulent contract deals but with Cottco, I believe all will be well as you know that our Government led by President Mugabe has people’s plight at heart,” he said.

Farmers said it was high time Government implemented Zim-Asset through construction of a ginnery nearby.

They said this would create employment in Gokwe.

They urged Cottco to buy cotton on time. Cottco is the sole buyer of cotton this season after Government supported farmers with inputs.

The move is consistent with the Government strategy of supporting cotton farmers countrywide for three seasons.

It started giving inputs to cotton farmers last year. Harvesting of the crop has started countrywide.

An estimated 60 percent of farmers grow cotton and these are mostly communal and A1 farmers.—BH24