Zimbabwe promoting hybrid cotton seed, crop-specific pest control

Zimbabwe is reviving its cotton sector for over 3 million smallholder farmers by promoting hybrid seed for higher yields, improving water access, ensuring fertiliser availability and working with chemical firms on cotton-specific pest control, Medlina Magwenzi, chief director of the Agricultural and Rural Development Advisory Services (ARDAS) in the Ministry of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Water Resources Development recently said.

She also acknowledged frustration of farmers over low prices and late payments under the Presidential Input Programme that had led many to divert inputs to maize and horticulture, as per the ministry’s Facebook post.

Zimbabwe is reviving its cotton sector for over 3 million smallholder farmers by promoting hybrid seed for higher yields, improving water access, ensuring fertiliser availability and working with chemical firms on cotton-specific pest control, a top government official recently said.
She also acknowledged frustration of farmers over low prices and late payments under the Presidential Input Programme.

Furing a tour of a cotton demonstration plot at the Kadoma Research Centre, she said pricing reforms are under way to create a win-win for farmers and contractors.

Annual cotton production in the country has dropped considerably from 352,000 tonnes in 2011.

Industry data showed that smallholder productivity has been severely affected, with average yields at a dismal 0.5 tonnes per hectare. The reasons reportedly are inadequate and delayed input distribution and poor-quality seeds being supplied by some seed sellers.

During her visit, industry experts raised serious concerns over poor seed quality and a widespread lack of standard handling protocols.

The failure to separate commercial seed from certified planting seed during processing has severely contaminated and degraded seeds supplied to farmers, resulting in poor germination rates that cripple productivity.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)