CHIPATA FARMERS CALL FOR THE AMENDMENT OF THE COTTON ACT

FARMERS are complaining through my office as their elected civic leader that we should amplify their voice to call on Members of Parliament to consider amending the unfair provisions in the current Cotton Act of 2005 which does not favour them, Chipata Mayor George Mwanza has said.

Speaking to The Scoop, Mr. Mwanza said farmers in Chipata complained about a drastic reduction in cotton production in Zambia in the last 10 years from approximately 275 000 metric tonnes per year to only 25 000 metric tonnes per year.

He said farmers under his jurisdiction were frustrated due to the Cotton Act which promoted exploitation from ginners.

“Chipata is predominantly an agricultural city and most farmers are young people while the majority are women. The general expectation of the farmers is that there must be serious improvement especially those involved in cotton on the fairness of pricing and general package,” Mr. Mwanza said.

He noted that the main complaint from the farmers was the challenge of seed distribution, seed availability on open market, and many issues that left them with no voice and no legally binding platform for them to air their views.

“I have learnt with sadness revelations by the Cotton Association of Zambia estimates that cotton productivity in Zambia has since dropped by about 90% in the last 10 years,” he said.

He added that there was a need for local civil society organizations in the cotton sector to advocate for inclusive dialogue, amplified voices, and accelerated innovations.

“Farmers are surprised that the ginners are not leaving the industry despite the over 90% drop. It only shows that the ginners are silently making supernormal profits while the farmers are left with little or nothing in return. Therefore, amending the unfair provisions in the Cotton Act will help to improve the sector and result in creating jobs that are needed for young people. Once the sector thrives, more young people will be interested in joining farming because this is a profitable venture,” he said.

He called on Members of Parliament to fully support the amendment of the Cotton Amendment Bill once presented in Parliament by the Minister of Agriculture.

“Farmers believe that just as the fashion industry is growing, there must be corresponding benefit for their energy in growing cotton. As Mayor, I wish to call upon MPs to support the amendment of the Cotton Act to bring about fairness in terms of the pricing and other contentious issues facing farmers,” he said.