Cotton output likely to drop

NASHON KENNEDY in Mwanza

COTTON production for the 2015/16 agriculture season is likely to drop following the absence of quality seeds that could be used by farmers the Tanzania Cotton Board Acting Director, Mr Gabriel Mwalo has said.

Speaking to journalists in Mwanza City on Tuesday Mr Mwalo said for many years the cultivation of cotton in the country has been based on circuit waged cotton seed for planting in the absence of a formal system of seed production for growing.

He said the seeds are normally obtained each year from Seed Stocks that each person who purchased them after sorting of cotton wool.“

The main challenge in this process of acquisition of seeds is the poor quality caused by farmers and agents who sprinkle water on the cotton sold and brought, making the seed rot. This affects germination during planting,” he said.

He said this farming season, a total of 27 agents who bought cotton were instructed by the board to allocate and store 21,380 tonnes of seeds which could be planted on 855,200.

He said from September this year, the board directed sorting centres to begin distributing a total of 16,654 tonnes out of 21,380 tonnes while the remaining 4,726 tonnes is retained for emergency.

He added that farmers should be aware that storing of seeds fully considers their needs for the required amount of seed planted per season applicable to the cotton major producer regions which are currently facing a serious problem of the quality of cotton seeds.