New varieties to boost cotton production-Quton

One of the country’s seed companies, Quton Limited, has expressed hope that the new varieties it has released will boost cotton production in the country.

Quton Chief Executive Officer, John Lungu, said the company has released four new seed varieties namely C567, C569, C571 and C577.

The varieties have come at a time when cotton yields have been declining in recent years

Lungu said the varieties have a capacity to produce 2,000 kilogrammes per hectare while the previous varieties were producing 500 kilogrammes per hectare.

“These new varieties will address the challenge that we have been facing in terms of yield. As a company, we are continuing with our trials and, at the moment, we are also conducting trials for genetically modified cotton seed.

“Our aim is to improve production and the cotton industry as a whole,” Lungu said.

He said the GMO varieties will be released in 2019.

In a separate interview, Cotton Farmers Association president, George Nnensa, welcomed the new varieties.

Nnensa said, over the past few years, the cotton industry has been on the decline due to a number of challenges faced by both the farmers and ginners.

“There have not been adequate inputs for our farmers which resulted in most farmers being unable to plant the crop. On the other hand, there have been increased cases of default in terms of loan repayment, which resulted in ginners shunning the market,” he said.

Nnensa said ginners who will assist farmers with farm inputs this season are the only ones who will be allowed to buy cotton from the farmers.