According to recently released crop production estimates by the Ministry of Agriculture, cotton production for this year has declined by 70%.
According to the report, last year’s market challenges have dropped production from 65000 tons last year to 20000 tons this year. On the other hand, the Cotton Farmers Association of Malawi says about 10 000 farmers have abandoned cotton production this season due to lack of loans and last season’s poor markets triggered by the Covid-19 pandemic.
The African Institute for Corporate Citizenship (Aicc) recently said that cotton market analysis shows that the sector is coming from a record low production of the 2018/19 which was around 10 000 metric tonnes, but the government’s Special Campaign for Cotton Production Enhancement (Scope) in 2019/20 season saw Treasury injecting K1 billion for Cotton production.