Harare, (New Ziana)- The Agricultural Marketing Authority (AMA) on Monday announced an extension of the national cotton marketing season to 15 August 2025 in a bid to give farmers more time to deliver their crop.
The move follows concerns from farming communities over logistical challenges and delays in accessing buying points. The cotton marketing season typically runs from May to July, but changing weather patterns and transportation issues have prompted periodic extensions in recent years.
The 2025 cotton marketing season officially opened on June 9, with the government projecting a bumper harvest of 61,000 metric tonnes, more than four times last season’s 13,600 metric tonnes.
According to a statement from the authority, the extension applies to selected regions and is aimed at ensuring that all cotton producers have a fair opportunity to market their produce. AMA said a total of 103 common buying points will remain operational during the extension period.
These are distributed across all major cotton-growing provinces, including Manicaland, Mashonaland Central, Mashonaland East, Mashonaland West, Masvingo, Matabeleland North, and Midlands.
To support the anticipated surge in output, AMA set up 697 cotton buying points, including 221 permanent stations and 476 mobile units across the country. AMA urged farmers to take advantage of the extended timeline.
“We strongly encourage all cotton growers to expedite their deliveries within the new timeframe. “Let us work together to close the season smoothly and successfully,” said the authority. Cotton farmers are being paid 70 percent in US dollars and 30 percent in ZiG, to cushion them from inflation.
New Ziana
