Cotton stakeholders have said the crop’s output is expected to be below the projected 22 800 metric tonnes (MT) as most of the markets have closed after exhausting supply with just 4 100 metric tonnes (MT) sold, raising K6.1 billion.
Both the Cotton Council of Malawi and Cotton Farmers Association have confirmed that all markets have closed except Karonga and Mchinji districts where the Agricultural Development and Marketing Corporation (Admarc) Limited started buying the crop late.
In an interview, Cotton Council of Malawi spokesperson Prisca Jamali said the closure of the cotton marketing season remains on August 26, but most outlets have already closed.
“We also expect the market to open in Mchinji district. It is only Admarc now that is directly buying in this district and we expect them to continue buying until the cotton is finished,” she said.
Cotton Farmers Association president Labson Zidana while confirmig that all markets have closed in the Southern Region, described the season as mixed as buyers offered the government-set minimum price of K1 500 per kilogramme (kg) while observing that production will be below half of the initial projection.
He said that over 75 percent of the total output has already been sold, but puts production at between 6 000MT and 7 000MT.
“In terms of marketing, the season has progressed well. On average the prices were within the farm-gate price of K1 500 per kg which is fair. In terms of volumes, we are far from the projected 22 800MT,” said Zidana.
This year, two of the four regular cotton buying companies, Malawi Cotton Company and Masapa Cotton Ginners, did not participate, citing low production levels that could not make any commercial sense to their business.
Malawi Cotton Company field manager Yohane Jim said the low production levels means that it is not worth running their machines while also pointing out technical challenges that frustrated stakeholders last season.
He said: “Production this year will be very low because out of the 26 000 farmers that grew cotton last season, only 7 000 have grown it this.
“Again, challenges that were observed last season were not resolved where the council’s Cotton Management Information System piloting resulted in buyers losing significant funds while accessing limited stocks.”
During the opening of this year’s season on May 25, Cotton Council of Malawi was optimistic that after producing around 10 000MT in 2025, production would hit 22 800MT in 2026 and 50 000MT in 2027 amid initiatives to revamp the sector.
Since 2010 when cotton output reached 100 000MT, production has averaged about about 10 000MT for the past decade, with last year the country producing around 10 000 MT.
The cotton market will run for 90 days up to August 26 in 50 designated outlets nationwide.
