Zimbabwe wants to revive its cotton and textile industry. More than a million Zimbabweans, including farmers, ginner, and textile producers and their families, depend on cotton for their livelihood.

Zimbabwean cotton is regarded one of the finest cottons in the world. However, crop hectarage is declining as farmers are shifting to other crops such as tobacco due to unviable prices. Subsidised cotton from developed countries is killing the competiveness of Zimbabwean ginners. There is a shortage of working capital. Capacity utilisation in the sector is below 10 per cent and there is cut-throat competition from cheap fabric imports. The local fabric market is now dominated by imports particularly from China, Pakistan and India.

The cotton output has declined from 4,50 000 hectares in the 2011-12 season to 2,41,849 hectares in the 2012-13 season. However, there are opportunities for the clothing industry if it focuses on niche quality markets rather than mass production commodity-like output. It has a competitive advantage locally and regionally based on delivery.

Strategies for the revival of the textile industry and value addition combined with financing from the banking sector are also expected to boost local demand for cotton and, hence, its production.