Gvt To Sideline Dishonest Cotton Farmers.

The government has moved to punish dishonest farmers who were given presidential inputs in 2022 but failed to deliver the crop to the Cotton Company of Zimbabwe [COTTCO] during the 2023 selling season.

Agriculture ministry secretary Obert Jiri,said farmers who failed to meet their targets would not be prioritized when the governments distribute 2023-2024 Presidential inputs.
“Farmers are advised that the 2023/24 presidential cotton inputs must prioritized farmers who deliver cotton to the market,” he said.

Cottco’s chief operating officer Munyaradzi Chikasha last week called for a probe into how farmers were utilizing inputs under the Presidential input scheme introduced to help farmers to increase output. There have been reports that some officials are selling the inputs, some of which were recovered by police from buyers.

“Agritex, Agricultural Marketing Authority [AMA], and Cottco extension services will work together to identify farmers to be supported.
“Co-ordinates of the production units will be captured to allow Cottco and Agritex to inspect and access crop establishment as part of the monitoring and evaluation of the use of inputs,” said Chikasha.Gvt to sideline dishonest cotton farmers.

The government has moved to punish dishonest farmers who were given presidential inputs in 2022 but failed to deliver the crop to the Cotton Company of Zimbabwe [COTTCO] during the 2023 selling season.

Agriculture ministry secretary Obert Jiri,said farmers who failed to meet their targets would not be prioritized when the governments distribute 2023-2024 Presidential inputs.
“Farmers are advised that the 2023/24 presidential cotton inputs must prioritized farmers who deliver cotton to the market,” he said.

Cottco’s chief operating officer Munyaradzi Chikasha last week called for a probe into how farmers were utilizing inputs under the Presidential input scheme introduced to help farmers to increase output. There have been reports that some officials are selling the inputs, some of which were recovered by police from buyers.

“Agritex, Agricultural Marketing Authority [AMA], and Cottco extension services will work together to identify farmers to be supported.
“Co-ordinates of the production units will be captured to allow Cottco and Agritex to inspect and access crop establishment as part of the monitoring and evaluation of the use of inputs,” said Chikasha.

Cotton production nearly hit a peak of 140 000 tonnes in the 2020/21 season while production declined following season to 60 000 tonnes and slightly rose to 90 000 tonnes in the 2022/23 season.
There is also a report that the Former Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Resettlement deputy minister Douglas Karoro was arrested on the allegations of selling 700 bags of fertilizer worth US $18 000 and 5000 vegetable seed kits from the Presidential inputs scheme.

Cotton production nearly hit a peak of 140 000 tonnes in the 2020/21 season while production declined following season to 60 000 tonnes and slightly rose to 90 000 tonnes in the 2022/23 season.
There is also a report that the Former Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Resettlement deputy minister Douglas Karoro was arrested on the allegations of selling 700 bags of fertilizer worth US $18 000 and 5000 vegetable seed kits from the Presidential inputs scheme.