Cotton deliveries up three times 

Cotton production has recorded an impressive jump as deliveries to Cottco hit 30 000 tonnes compared to 10 000 tonnes delivered at the same time last year.

With the marketing season have opened just last month, the development has raised expectations that the 110 000 tonnes targeted for this year will be achieved.

The 30 000 tonnes mark has already surpassed the national cotton output of 28 000 tonnes achieved last year where Cottco only secured just 10 000 tonnes, translating to 33 percent of the market share.

With harvesting and deliveries now at peak, cotton is on the verge of bouncing back as one of the country’s biggest foreign currency earners.

Cottco Acting Managing Director, Pious Manamike said it is encouraging that more farmers are now eager to grow the crop.

Of the 30 000 tonnes delivered to Cottco, about 3000 tonnes of cotton seed have been supplied to various companies to produce cooking oil, while 2000 tonnes have been ginned into lint for export.