Harare (New Ziana)- Farmers who were given free presidential cotton inputs and delivered the produce to the Cotton Company of Zimbabwe (Cottco) during the 2023 selling season, in fulfilment of their contract, will be prioritised for inputs distribution underway, a senior government official has said.

The government introduced a number of farmer support programmes such as the Presidential Input Scheme and Pfumvudza/Intwasa through which farmers are given seed, fertilisers and chemicals for free, to boost production.

The introduction of support and competitive prices have seen many farmers returning to grow cotton after having abandoned it in favour of other cash crops such as tobacco, whose marketing was orderly and prices profitable.

In a statement, permanent secretary for the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development Obert Jiri said farmers who did not honour their contract to deliver to Cottco will be given the free inputs last.

“Farmers are advised that the 2023/24 presidential cotton inputs must prioritise farmers who delivered seed cotton during the 2023 cotton marketing season,” he said.

“Agritex, AMA and Cottco extension services will work jointly to identify farmers to be supported. Coordinates of production units will be captured to allow Cottco and Agritex to inspect and access crop establishment as part of the monitoring and evaluation of the use of inputs,” he added.

Cottco chief operating officer said out of the 140 000 contracted growers who benefitted from the presidential inputs scheme in 2022/23 cropping season, only 37 percent delivered seed cotton to Cottco.

There is speculation that some of the beneficiaries of the free inputs scheme used the fertiliser and herbicides on other crops such as maize.

Some farmers allegedly sold the inputs, part of which was recovered by police from buyers.

New Ziana