Stakeholders in the cotton industry say they are looking forward to the long-awaited opening of the Cotton Marketing Season on Friday.
Farmers have specifically expressed satisfaction with this year’s government-set minimum price.
The Ministry of Agriculture put the minimum buying price for the crop at K1 400 per kilogramme (kg) from last year’s K900 per kg.
country’s economy. | Nation
Cotton Council of Malawi spokesperson Prisca Jamali said in an interview on Monday that they expect farmers to sell about 22 000 metric tonnes (MT) of the crop.
“Preparations are going on well and we expect a fair season with improved production at 22 000 metric tonnes compared to last season where the country produced less than 10 000 metric tonnes,” she said.
On his part, Cotton Farmers Association of Malawi president Labson Zidana acknowledged improvements in the number of farmers that have grown cotton this year.
He, however, said dry spells, which delayed planting in some areas, have affected the crop’s output for farmers.
Salima-based cotton farmer Vincent Manda said in an interview on Monday that he expects to harvest 30 bales from three hectares.
“We expect an improvement in cotton production. However, the production this year, especially in Salima, will be affected by dry spells, which has significantly affected some farmers,” he said.
In a separate interview, Balaka-based Malawi Cotton Company Limited field manager Yohane Jim said as ginners, they are ready to roll out the exercise in coordination with the council.
He said: “Most of the ginners are already prepared, but since the council leads preparatory activities, we believe everything is set for a better season.
“It is difficult for us to say how much are we going to buy because for the past few years, all the ginners have been scrambling for about 10 000 MT, meaning we just buy according to supply although my company has an installed capacity of 30 000MT.”
Cotton Council of Malawi executive director Cosmas Luwanda said cotton output will jump by 238 percent this season thanks to an injection of K2.8 billion that helped to boost output through provision of certified seed.
He said the cotton regulatory authority was expected to multiply 625MT of seed to produce 50 000MT of the crop through investment in seed and pesticides.
Said Luwanda: “However, the actual investment that has gone into the cotton sector this year in terms of inputs amounts to K2.85 billion.
“Based on the investment made, actual seed procured was 222MT, which is 35.5 percent of the target of 625MT.”
Meanwhile, the council has projected that this year’s crop is expected to raise K30.8 billion at an average price of K1 400 per kg compared to K5.9 billion realised during the previous season.
Cotton is the country’s fourth foreign exchange earner after tobacco, tea and sugar.
Last year, the country earned $3 million (about K5.9 billion) from cotton, a drop from the previous year’s $5.7 million (about K10 billion).
