Zimbabwe’s cotton production is expected to recover to over 90 000 tonnes this year, with stakeholders in the value chain still conducting crop validation to establish the exact hectarage and potential output.Investment in Zimbabwe
The country’s all-time high for cotton production was achieved in the 2010/2011 season, with production reaching approximately 350 703 metric tonnes. Cotton output was 28 000 tonnes in 2025, due to limited contractor support caused by widespread side marketing, poor producer prices and late input distribution by contractors, among other factors. The Agricultural Marketing Authority (AMA) said the validation exercise was ongoing.
According to the Agricultural and Rural Development Advisory Service (Ardas) weekly report, by January 26, farmers were still planting, with 137 525 ha put under the cotton crop.
The Crops, Horticulture, Fisheries and Livestock Summer Plan 2025/2026 set an initial target cotton hectarage of 270 000 to produce 189 000 tonnes at an average yield of 0,7 tonnes per hectare.
A total production of 96 268 tonnes of seed cotton can be realised from this year’s planted hectarage if the targeted 0,7 tonnes per hectare yield is achieved as a result of favourable weather. This volume will surpass even the 2023 high of 90 084 tonnes.
Cotton Producers and Marketers Association (CPMA) chairman, Mr Stewart Mubonderi, said this year’s crop was in good condition in most parts of the country, though those in light soils were requiring top dressing fertiliser as their crop was being affected by leaching.
“We call upon contractors to supply top dressing fertiliser to farmers in light soil areas such as Magunje, Karoi and Buhera, which suffered leaching due to incessant rains. “We also call upon the Mutapa Investment Fund (MIF) and all the contractors to raise enough funds to purchase this season’s crop, whose quality is excellent so far,” he said.
AMA chief operating officer, Mr Munyaradzi Chikasha, said depending on the rainfall forecast and available moisture, farmers could receive top dressing.
“We are towards the end of the season and in some cases, top dressing may not bring the intended benefits. “Therefore, it will be on a case-by-case basis,” he said. Some farmers were worried about the delays in the payment of seed cotton deliveries and grade-based price differentials.
The affected farmers appealed to MIF to fulfil its pledge of paying for outstanding Cottco debts and incentivise farmers to tend their current crop. MIF in July last year undertook to clear Cottco Holdings’ legacy debts within six months. MIF chief executive officer (CEO), Dr John Mangudya, revealed this when he appeared before the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Lands and Agriculture in July last year.
“We want to ensure that Cottco pays its legacy debts, which is money it owes to workers (US$3,1 million), transporters (US$1 million) and farmers (about US$6 million). Dr Mangudya also disclosed that Cottco will also introduce a credit card system for farmers to curb abuse of inputs distributed under the Presidential Inputs Scheme (PIS).
The card will be for farmers to swipe for inputs at registered merchants.
The system will be linked to the banks, POSB and AFC and the biometrics from the Registrar General’s office. According to Statutory Instrument (SI) 118 of 2022, contractors are mandated to pay growers grade differential prices for their seed cotton deliveries after grading seed cotton by November 30 of each year.-herald
