The Sunday News
GOVERNMENT identified a new market for cotton and its by-products in Belarus during Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s recent visit to the European country.
The development is likely boost the cotton farming industry in the wake of clashes between farmers and cotton companies some of which spilled into the courts.
Speaking during the official opening of the Midlands Show, VP Mnangagwa said there was a high demand of cotton in Belarus and challenged cotton farmers to take up the challenge.
“Informed by the realities and imperatives in other countries that have an appetite for our cotton, there is a huge market for lint and other by-products from the white gold.
“As you are aware that I recently visited Belarus, a former Russian state where agriculture has transformed that country to the levels where it matches developed countries worldwide I want to mention that Belarus is in need of vast quantities of cotton.
“It therefore calls upon us to fill that market with production of cotton which our people have capacity, skills and experience to do.
“Accordingly I propose exploring of opportunities in areas like Gokwe where there is abundant water in Sengwa River. There are peasant farmers who have experience in growing cotton and potential for solar power is there. There is also the (Cotton) research centre in Kadoma together with Midlands State University and other agricultural colleges support the care and harvesting processes of cotton.
“The presence of such key requisites can power the development of a vibrant cotton industry,” VP Mnangagwa said.
Most cotton farmers have been accused of withholding their produce owing to uneconomic prices that were being offered by cotton buyers and breaching their farming contracts, a development which has seen cotton companies dragging them to court.
VP Mnangagwa said Government also intended to export over 30 million tonnes of chrome ore in the wake of the lifting of the ban on exportation of chrome ore which was mainly targeted at small scale miners.
He said youths in chrome mining should be given first preference as espoused in the Zimbabwe Agenda for Sustainable Socio-Economic Transformation (Zim Asset) on youth empowerment and employment creation.
“I wish to reiterate the fact that Government will continue to institute policies to catapult the small scale mining sector. On a related note, I urge the youths to take full advantage of the recently announced Government policy to lift the ban on the exportation of chrome ore. The lifting of the ban was mainly targeting youths whom we encourage to form mining syndicates. We intend to export up to 30 million metric tonnes of chrome ore,” he said.
VP Mnangagwa bemoaned the failure by responsible authorities to contain the foot and mouth disease that saw cattle farmers being excluded from this year’s edition of the Midlands Show.
“I am disappointed that this year there are no cattle being exhibited due to the failure to control the foot and mouth disease. This undermines our agricultural revolution as with more beef markets emerging, it is critical for us to think of a new integrated and sustainable approach to control foot and mouth.
“The beef industry offers a lot of opportunities for the leather industry. However, despite the above drawbacks, in-line with the critical importance of livestock as a source of animal protein and dairy products I am impressed with the progress made by resettled and communal farmers alike in this vital area of growth,” he said.
VP Mnangagwa warned the land reform committee in the Midlands Province to spare dairy farmers.
The province has earmarked 50 farms for the ongoing farm downsizing exercise that is likely to benefit over 2 000 smallholder farmers.
“Dairy farming is a low hanging fruit that is easily amenable to value addition across the whole range of its products. I encourage them to keep up the good work and move towards improving the quality of their milk through better feeding techniques as well as research and development in association with the Ministry of Agriculture Mechanisation and Irrigation Development.
“I wish to advise the land reform committee in the Midlands Province to stop disrupting dairy farmers. This is an area where our youths can venture into and with appropriate training can generate income,” he said.
The four-day Midlands Show ends today and was running under the theme “Youth Employment and Wealth Creation..
