Malawi’s Cotton Development Trust (CDT) has asked members of Parliament (MPs) to pass the Cotton Bill during this meeting of the House.
CDT chairperson Patrick Khembo said this during a press briefing in the capital, Lilongwe at the weekend.
He said the bill will help to bring focus and promote good management in the cotton industry.
“Before liberalisation, most activities in the cotton industry centred on Admarc as it used to supply inputs as well as process and market the crop.
“While liberalisation is a good policy as it creates competition which benefits the industry, we realise that there are gaps in the provision of essential services, hence the need for the bill to be passed into a law,” said Khembo.
He said the cotton industry is facing a lot of challenges that can only be overcome if Parliament passes the bill.
He cited lack of access to sufficient and quality seed which results in low yields as most farmers use recycled seed.
“Cotton yields have stagnated at between 600 and 800 kilogrammes per hectare and this frustrates farmers as they do not get good returns from their labour,” said Khembo.
