Cotton farmers demand lucrative markets, good prices

Cotton farmers have asked authorities to ensure availability of markets and good prices for their crop to reap benefits from their investment.

The farmers made the plea last week at Chinguluwe Extension Planning Area (EPA) in Salima during a cotton field day organised by the African Institute of Corporate Citizenship (Aicc) in collaboration with We-Effect Malawi and other cotton stakeholders.

In an interview, a cotton farmer in Chataika area within Chinguluwe EPA in Salima, Robert Tsumbalagwa said that of late, cotton is associated with lack of lucrative markets and poor prices.

“The future of this crop is there, but as farmers we need assurance of existing and lucrative markets, including prior knowledge of prices which would encourage us to increase production,” said Tsumbalagwa.

Another farmer, Pitani Misomali, who started growing cotton in1987, decried poor prices offered. He said he sold his crop at K250 per kilogramme (kg), which was 30 percent below the government set minimum price of K375 per kg.

On his part, Aicc chief executive officer Felix Lombe admitted that cotton farmers are facing numerous challenges because for some time, the crop has been neglected.

He said that key issues remain low production, uncertainties in the market and low value addition.

“We have seen the systematic withdrawal of buyers and a collusion among buyers which requires strengthening of regulatory framework,” said Lombe.

Cotton Farmers Association president Dickson Gundani said this year, about 10 000 farmers abandoned cotton growing due to last season’s poor prices.

Last season, farmers struggled to access markets because Covid-19 lockdowns.