FARMERS have earned US$1,2 million and ZiG14,3 million (US$1.740m in total) from seed cotton sales as the 2026 cotton marketing season gathers pace amid high expectations for a better outturn compared to the previous two.
The Agricultural Marketing Authority’s (AMA) weekly report dated June 19 revealed that seed cotton intake rose by 1 535 percent from last year’s 310 625 kg to 5 079 907 kilogrammes as of June 18 this year.
Officially launching the 2026 cotton marketing season in May, AMA chief executive officer, Ms Alice Mapfiza, said minimum cotton prices were set following price negotiations between farmers and contractors.
For grade A, the price was set at US$0,43 per kg, grade B — US$0,41 per kg, grade C — US$0,38 per kg and grade D — US$0,35 per kg.
Seventy percent of the payments will be in United States dollars and the balance in local currency across the 173 permanent and 398 mobile common buying points (CBPs) established countrywide, as per the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe guidelines.
The largest contractor, Cottco, has bought 62 percent of the crop (3 169 424kg) sold thus far, followed by Alliance Ginneries with 19 percent (975 000kg) and Southern Cotton at 11 percent (567 172kg).
Agri Value Chain came fourth after purchasing six percent (295 336kg), with Cangrow coming last at one percent (72 975kg).
AMA said payments should be made instantly upon delivery (not later than 48 hours), in line with RBZ payment guidelines.
“No bale shall be removed from the CBP unless it has been paid for in terms of the minimum price.
“Contractors shall deliver individualised statements of grades and intake to the farmers by November 30,” said AMA.
Cotton Producers and Marketers Association (CPMA) chairman, Mr Stewart Mubonderi, said their members were happy that Cottco has provided plastic bags for cotton picking and is paying both the foreign currency component and ZiG in Ecocash to farmers.
Best cotton farmer for the 2021/22 season, Mr Smart Kambanje from Nembudziya under Chief Makore in Gokwe North District, revealed that his wife sold 16 bales and received payment in currencies.
A communal farmer from Mbezvo Village in Hurungwe, Mr Watson Madziyadondo, said he had delivered four bales to their local CBP, but the crop was yet to be bought.
A1 farmer from Masvingo, Mr Kurauone Chimbwero, said farmers had delivered their bales at the Dawlish CBP and contractors were buying the crop, but the majority of merchants were not paying the full amounts at once.
Cotton Ginners Association chairman, Mr Jonas Chindanya, said their members were busy buying the crop and were paying both the foreign and local currency components to growers.
The validation exercise conducted by AMA, Government departments, contractors and farmers’ unions in most cotton-producing regions of the country from April 13 to 17 this year points to a 33 percent increase in seed cotton output from 29 000 tonnes last year to 38 500 tonnes this year.-herald
