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Natasha Chamba, Business Reporter
ZIMBABWE’s cotton output for the 2017/2018 cropping season surged 95 percent compared to the previous period driven by Government’s Presidential input scheme and investments by private cotton companies.

According to the Agriculture Marketing Authority (AMA), the total output for the 2018 marketing season stood at 142 761 141 kilogrammes as at 26 October compared to 73 141 231 kg achieved during the same period last year.

“The total output in 2018 stood at 142 761 141 kg as at 26 October compared to 73 141 231 kg achieved the period last year. We are still expecting a few bales before year end and as such there will be minor changes to the figures,” AMA said.

Cotton remains a strategic crop considering that it is one of the major foreign currency earners after tobacco and sugar. It is also a source of livelihood for more than 250 000 households mainly in drier parts of the country.

Six companies have so far registered to contract cotton growers in the 2018 to 2019 season and AMA said it is working to attract more investors into the cotton business. A number of investors have over the years shunned the cotton industry in the country due to low international prices.

Zimbabwean cotton farmers abandoned growing the crop when its prices dropped to as low as 50 cents per kg. In the 2018 marketing season prices increased to 55 cents per kg before grade adjustments.

The companies which have registered to fund cotton growing are Cotton Company of Zimbabwe (Cottco), Southern Cotton, Alliance Ginneries, Zimbabwe Cotton Consortium, China Africa Cotton and Shawashaagri (Pvt) Ltd.

— @queentauraszw.