Zimbabwe is finalising the new prices for different grades of cotton ahead of the beginning of the selling season. Over 60 per cent of the total output is expected to be Grade A, which is the supreme grade in cotton production. This year the country has had an excellent season and expects that to continue every year in all areas, with cotton included.

Cotton production had declined to about 35,000 tons by 2016, from an average of 84,000 tons in 2015 and 1,43,000 tons in 2014. Farmers abandoned cotton production over the past few seasons in frustration over perennial poor prices offered by merchants. The plan is to double the cotton hectarage.

Zimbabwe’s textile and clothing sub-sector consists of three components: production and ginning of cotton, transformation of lint into yarn and fabric, and the conversion of fabric and yarn into garments. Production of cotton had significantly declined in recent years owing to the high cost of production and unending fights over pricing between farmers and merchants.

Other problems plaguing the industry in Zimbabwe are poor performance, low productivity, out of date technology, and lack of investment and government support. An increasing number of textile mills in the country is closing down.