Cotton production at a low

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Cotton production at a low

1:50 CAT | 11 Apr 2019

Photo: MASA

The low price of cotton on the market – compared to other yield crops, and associated with climatic issues – is a factor in the low production of the so-called “white gold” in the current agricultural campaign.

Preliminary figures from the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (MASA), cited by O Pais, indicate production of 60,000 tons of cotton in the 2018-1019 harvest, a fall of 6,000 tons on 2017- 2018’s total.

Cotton production this year is taking up approximately 100,000 hectares, 29 percent down on 2018.

Cotton production has been declining in Mozambique for years. Many producers have switched to sesame and boer bean because of the high prices these products command in the market.

Mozambique reached peak cotton production of about 185,000 tons in the 2011-2012 agricultural season, a record since independence.

Prior to that, the highest cotton production was in 2005-2006, when 122,000 tons were sold. In 1984-1985, the country recorded its worst post-independence production figures, not even managing 5,000 tons.

By Edson Arante

Source: O País / MASA