Malawi’s cotton output is expected to jump by 238 percent this season to 22 000 metric tonnes (MT) thanks to an injection of K2.8 billon that helped to boost production through seed provision, among others.
Cotton Council of Malawi executive director Cosmas Luwanda said in an interview on Friday that the expected output will be below the target of 50 000MT, dampened by low investment and dry spells.
He said the cotton regulatory authority was expected to multiply 625MT of seed to produce 55 000MT of the crop through investment of K8.6 billion 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 increase from the target of 625MT.”
He said the farmers are expected to generate income from cotton sales amounting to K30.8 billion at the newly-announced farm-gate price of K1 400 per kilogramme (kg) compared to K5.8 billion in the previous year.
Cotton Farmers Association of Malawi president Labson Zidana, in an interview on Friday, acknowledged improvements in terms of the number of farmers that have grown cotton this year.
He, however, said dry spells, which delayed planting in some areas, has affected some farmers in terms of productivity though they expect a better crop.
Salima-based cotton farmer Vincent Manda said an interview that he is expecting to harvest 30 bales from his 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, Malawi Cotton Company Limited field manager Patrick Jim described the council’s interventions as positive, but said there is need for more engagement with the ginners because of their direct link with the farmers.
“We are aware of the ongoing initiatives by the Cotton Council of Malawi, but we believe for such initiatives to be more successful, we should increase our collaboration as stakeholders,” he said.
During the 2024/25 growing season, cotton seed multiplication was done in the country by Masapa Cotton Ginners in collaboration with Solidalidad to deal with seed challenges, which contributed to the low production of cotton in the recent years.
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 bilion).
Estimates by Cotton Council of Malawi show that Malawi could earn about $15 million (about K28 billion) from the crop this season.
