By Ousman Kaliati:
Cotton farmers in Salima District have urged the government to entice more cotton buyers to enter the Malawi market in order to create a competitive environment and in return improve prices offered for the commodity.
For example, in the previous cotton marketing season, the government pegged a kilogramme of cotton at K580 before farmers demanded it to be raised to K600.
This came out, Monday, during a field visit by representatives of the African Institute of Corporate Citizenship (AICC).
One of the cotton growers from Kachikumba Club in the area of Senior Chief Kalonga in the District, Grace Liwonde, said farmers are not benefitting from growing cotton due to low prices.
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“Having more buyers on the market can help improve prices rather than having one buyer with no competitors. We have the capacity to grow cotton but the only challenge is that of high cost of cotton seeds; it’s not in line with the earnings,” Lionde said.
Salima District Project Officer for AICC Moses Ching’ombe said they would continue working towards improving the cotton industry.
“As mediators, we make sure that stakeholders are providing farmers with quality seeds and also good prices, we have lobbied for more stakeholders for competition, which will also increase the prices on the market,” Ching’ombe said.
He added that Salima has Been blessed with four cotton buyers who he believes will address worries expressed by the farmers in regard to cotton prices.
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Agriculture Extension Development Coordinator Alice Kafunda commended AICC for its efforts in resuscitating cotton farming in the district.
