Govt plans to govern cotton farmers

With an aim to govern cotton growers and contractors to safeguard the farmers from being ripped off by the companies buying the crop, the Government is planning a legal instrument, said Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Cde David Chapfika.

He has pointed out that there was a need to balance the interests of cotton growers and those of their contractors as he was aware with the situation that cotton companies were selling cotton inputs to farmers on credit and would decline to cash repayment.

He clarified that cotton companies did not want repayment in cash but required the cotton growers to pay back using cotton.

On the other hand, cotton farmers were complaining about the effect that inflation would have on them should they accept cash. Further they argued that if they were to accept payment in cash, the money would have been eroded by inflation.

Earlier, the Government had a number of meetings with both parties and agreed they were going to work amicably so that all benefited and continued their farming activities. However, he pointed out that the proposed law is going to help those who are involved in growing cotton.