Zimbabwe’s cotton industry is on a path to recovery, with the Cotton Company of Zimbabwe (COTTCO) targeting to produce between 55,000 and 60,000 tonnes of cotton from over 120,000 hectares cultivated this season.
COTTCO Chief Executive Officer Rockie Mutenha confirmed that the distribution of top-dressing fertilizer, herbicides, and pesticides to farmers is already underway to support the crop.
“As COTTCO, we have established 129,500 hectares of cotton at various growth stages, some of which is five weeks old. We expect to harvest between 55,000 and 60,000 tonnes from this hectarage,” said Mutenha.
Cotton Producers and Marketers Association of Zimbabwe chairperson, Stewart Mubonderi, expressed optimism about this year’s harvest, noting that crop conditions indicate a promising yield.
“The state of the crop is good, and we anticipate surpassing the 60,000-tonne target. However, we urge farmers who have not yet registered with COTTCO to do so in order to receive the necessary herbicides and pesticides,” Mubonderi said.
This year’s projections mark a significant improvement from last year’s 15,000 tonnes, which was affected by the El Niño-induced drought. The revitalization of the cotton sector is expected to boost Zimbabwe’s economy, given the crop’s role in rural livelihoods and export earnings.
