Monday, December 4, 2023
  • About Us
  • ImagiNATION
  • Rate Card
  • Contact Us
The Nation Online
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Life & Style
    • Every Woman
      • Soul
      • Family
    • Religion
    • Feature
  • Society
  • Columns
  • Sports
  • Enation
  • Mother’s Fun Run
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Life & Style
    • Every Woman
      • Soul
      • Family
    • Religion
    • Feature
  • Society
  • Columns
  • Sports
  • Enation
  • Mother’s Fun Run
No Result
View All Result
No Result
View All Result
Home Business Business News

Quton to improve Malawi cotton industry

by Johnny Kasalika
15/09/2012
in Business News
2 min read
0
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on WhatsAppShare on LinkedinLinkedinShare via Email

A new cotton company, Quton Malawi Limited, a sister company to SeedCo Malawi, has vowed to improve Malawi’s cotton sector by ensuring the provision of quality and fast-maturing cotton planting seeds and add value to raw cotton, among others.

The company, which was incorporated in October last year and has its headquarters in Blantyre, has also pledged to engage all stakeholders in the cotton value chain such as cotton growers, input suppliers, the Cotton Development Trust (CDT), cotton ginners and the Ministry of Agriculture, as one way of ensuring high-quality cotton production in Malawi.

Quton Malawi chief executive officer John Lungu said this in an interview last week during a two-day 2012/13 business conference for SeedCo Malawi which brought together transporters, agro-dealers, the media and Ministry of Agriculture officials.

“We are supplying SZ9314, which is a wonder product and is doing well across environments where cotton is grown. There is huge demand for the variety and we will compliment government’s efforts to save forex used in importing cotton seed,” said Lungu.

The company’s pledge comes at a time the Malawi Government invested K1.6 billion in cotton production in 2011/12 financial year.

It also coincides with a drop in cotton production this year from an estimated 244 777 metric tonnes to only 100 000 metric tonnes, a situation industry experts have partly blamed on continued use of poor cotton seed.

Lungu said the company’s vision and mission is to be Africa’s cotton seed house and to provide the best cotton planting seed in Africa, respectively, through breeding, multiplying and distribution of quality planting seed.

“Quton in Malawi works with Makoka Research Station under an arrangement where Quton multiplies local varieties. All ginners and all stakeholders in the cotton industry are our partners and customers. Ginners are our partners in seed production,” he said.

On challenges, Lungu said previous companies have disappointed cotton farmers, which he said, resulted in more cotton growers having little faith in Quton.

He also bemoaned inadequate trained extension staff to help cotton farmers, inadequate supply of prebasic seed and inadequate resources for cotton production as some critical challenges that affected the industry during the last season.

Previous Post

Danish Investment firm eyes Malawi

Next Post

On the call to action

Related Posts

Simwaka: SMEs are the backbone of the nation’s economy
Business News

NBS Bank dates SMEs

December 4, 2023
Jiang  and Ndipo during the meeting
Business News

Chinese community eyes more investment in Malawi

December 4, 2023
Business News

Govt move on revenues

December 4, 2023
Next Post

On the call to action

Opinions and Columns

People’s Tribunal

We haven’t learnt lesson on holding protests

December 3, 2023
Musings on Corruption

Beware of social norms, pluralistic ignorance

December 3, 2023
Big Man Wamkulu

He named our kid after girlfriend

December 3, 2023
Guest Spot

‘MPs must scrutinise IMF deals’

December 2, 2023

Trending Stories

  • OPC under scrutiny over recruitment

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Chakwera mulls over Zamba chop calls

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • AfDB to support Malawi’s economic infrastructure

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Chaos at ‘Is the President Dead’ movie premiere

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • He named our kid after girlfriend

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
Loading
  • Values
  • Our Philosophy
  • Editorial policy
  • Advertising Policy
  • Code of Conduct
  • Plagiarism disclaimer
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use

© 2023 Nation Publications Limited. All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Life & Style
    • Every Woman
      • Soul
      • Family
    • Religion
    • Feature
  • Society
  • Columns
  • Sports
  • Enation
  • Mother’s Fun Run

© 2020 Nation Publications Limited. All Rights Reserved.

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.