Africa-Press – Eswatini. The ministry of agriculture has assured local cotton farmers that government will continue to support the cotton industry.
This was said by the Minister of Agriculture, Jabulani Mabuza, who was represented by Principal Secretary Sydney Simelane at the Cotton Day event hosted by Eswatini Cotton Board at Eswatini Cotton Ginnery in Big Bend yesterday.
Mabuza said even though government was experiencing financial challenges post COVID-19, they continue to support the industry.
“This was evident through continuously allocating a budget of E1. 5 million to cotton farmers through the revolving fund,” he said.
The minister said he had gathered that the fund formed the basis for seasonal production, as cotton farmers were able to access planting seeds, chemicals for crop management and herbicides for weed control.
“This fund does not only support small-scale growers but also irrigating cotton farmers. The ministry is aware that such a fund is not enough to support all cotton farmers as it covers only one hectare for each farmer,” the minister highlighted.
He further explained that government was making efforts to improve the allocation to allow farmers to increase production and meet the ginnery throughput. “It remains the government priority to keep the cotton industry vibrant as it is also a source of employment to over 70 seasonal workers during the ginning season,” he said.
Eswatini Cotton Board Chairman, Mandla Mavuso, appreciated the previous board for the work they had done for the industry and promised to follow in their footsteps as he was only appointed two months ago.
Mavuso thanked the staff at Eswatini cotton Ginnery for all the good work they had been doing while facing the difficulties that come with farming cotton. He requested the minister to assist them in ensuring that there are changes in the prices of cotton in the country.
“Farmers are complaining that the prices they get for sales were now very low and needed to be changed,” pleaded Mavuso.
He, however, stated that what would help cotton farmers would be for them to encourage each other to farm cotton because the more the number of farmers the more ideas and voices they will have.
“When the minister appointed us into the board he requested us to call upon the local farmers to join the cotton industry and we are here as the board and ready to do our jobs so would,” he said. Mavuso mentioned that a lot of things will succeed in the industry only if there was unity.
He encouraged the board’s management to join hands with the ministry on their tasks in order to be successful.
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