Story by Tafara Chikumira, Midlands Bureau Chief
MIDLANDS – A Gokwe cotton farmer has become the envy of the community with his farming prowess set to add to the output of the white gold in the country this summer cropping season.
Mr Albert Makovere, a seasoned communal farmer, has once again set a high standard with his promising cotton crop.
This season, he planted three hectares of cotton and is anticipating an average yield of 3 000 kilogrammes per hectare, thanks to a combination of timely inputs, expert guidance, and disciplined farming practices.
“We have been running this cotton business over the years, and, for some of us, it has become a way of life. I cannot imagine a season without cotton farming. This season, the crop variety I used seems to be looking good. We managed to get all the inputs from the Presidential Input Scheme right on time. The agronomists were equally helpful for me to get a good harvest,” Mr Albert Makovere said.
Experts from the Cotton Research Institute have lauded Makovere’s approach, emphasising that proper agronomic practices are key to achieving top yields.
“We are quite impressed by the level of farming being implemented in these parts of the country. Farmers need to test their soils so that they know the appropriate seed variety to use for maximum benefits. They also need to understand when to apply fertiliser and the correct type,” Cotton Breeder, Mrs Caroline Pazhe said.
“We are very happy that cotton farming is still viable in this country. Our job is to preserve this precious crop by all means. Things are shaping up here in Gokwe, and we continue to urge our farmers to follow instructions from agronomists for them to achieve maximum yields from their produce,” Cotton Research Institute Acting Head, Mr Marco Mare said.
Meanwhile, the government recently announced the closure of the cotton marketing season, which began on June 9.
This year, grade A cotton sold for around US$0.40 per kilogram, while lower grades fetched a minimum of US$0.30 per kilogram.
