Low prices worry cotton growers

Cotton growers in Chikhwawa district, southern Malawi, have expressed worry over continued low prices for the crop currently fetching K95 per kilogram.

Mr. Fred Dane, Secretary for the Growers Association told Zodiak Online on Sunday that this year cotton farmers will not gain from their labour as a result of the poor prices.

Mr. Dane alleged that prices are this low because buyers are taking advantage of the K1.6 billion government allocated in cotton production in the 2011/2012 budget for the procurement of farm inputs for cotton production.

In 2011, cotton prices reached as high as K200 per kilogram and there were expectations that prices would improve this season following the K1.6 government provided to boost production.