Area under cotton production to increase in 2016

Forecasts for the 2015/2016 cotton production season have indicated a 10 percent increase in seed cotton to 210 000 hectares due to anticipated increase in funding levels for contract cotton production by ginners and merchants.  

The increase in area planted is also expected to increase production and recovery in yield levels after the drought conditions of the 2014/2015 season by 40 percent to 126 000 tonnes next year.

Seed cotton production declined by 34 percent from 136 000 tonnes last year, to 90 000 tonnes this year.

This is the second lowest crop in the last two decades after 60 000 tonnes was harvested in the 1991/92 season also due to severe drought conditions.

Zimbabwe has the potential to produce 600 000 tonnes of cotton but over the years production has dwindled as a result of reduced investment and poor agronomic practices in the cotton sector.