THE Minister for Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries, Dr Charles Tizeba has directed the Tanzania Cotton Growers Association (TACOGA) and the Cotton Board (TCA) to clear contradictions in cotton prices.
Speaking at a meeting with farmers and
cotton stakeholders here, Dr Tizeba said here that the volume of cotton
bales bought is down from 700,000 tonnes to 100,000 tonnes most likely
due to the contradictions in prices offered to buyers.
He said cotton prices must be clear to
all so as to create a win-win situation between farmers and buyers which
is necessary in the promotion of cotton in the country.
The Acting Director of Tanzania Cotton
Board (TCB), James Shimbe said cotton is a sub-sector in the country
which has no formal system of production and distribution of quality
seeds. He said use of uncertified seeds was one of the major reasons for
low cotton output.
Referring to other challenges facing
cotton sector in the country, Mr Shimbe said wilt disease had adversely
affected cotton crop mostly in the districts of Bunda, Musoma,
Serengeti, Maswa, Bariadi, Mbogwe, Bukombe, Geita and Chato.
Expounding further Mr Shimbe spoke about
the contract farming in cotton crop which began to be implemented with
the consent of the stakeholders of cotton in 2011 “Contract farming
formally established for solving their problems in cultivation of cotton
and thus began in Kibondo and Bariadi districts,” Mr Shimwe said.
According to him, the Cotton Board (TCB)
has continued with efforts of educating farmers on contract cotton
farming where until now various companies and government officials have
seen the importance of that type of farming
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