Five years of neglect, now a 50,000-tonne Cotton ambition

Government says it is determined to revive Malawi’s cotton industry after five years of neglect, setting an ambitious target of increasing national production from less than 5,000 metric tonnes last season to 50,000 metric tonnes this season.

The announcement has raised hopes among cotton farmers who have struggled with declining production and challenges accessing improved seed, as the government moves to restore the crop’s contribution to the agricultural economy.

Agriculture Minister Roza Mbilizi told Parliament that the government, through the Cotton Council of Malawi, is working to revive an industry she said had been “completely neglected” over the past five years.

Mbilizi: govt working to revive cotton industry

Mbilizi was responding to a supplementary question from Salima Central West MP Enock Phale, who asked whether the ministry had plans to make hybrid cotton seed more affordable and accessible to farmers.

Phale said farmers were facing difficulties accessing hybrid seed despite its potential to deliver higher yields and greater resistance to diseases compared with open-pollinated varieties (OPVs).

He noted that the hybrid seed is currently imported and expensive, making it difficult for some farmers to access the variety they believe could improve productivity.

Mbilizi said the government’s revival efforts include strengthening local seed production, revealing that Malawi has, for the first time in the past five years, managed to produce its own cotton seed for farmers.

She said the development would help the country reduce its reliance on imported seed while supporting efforts to expand cotton production.

According to the minister, Malawi produced less than 5,000 metric tonnes of cotton during the previous season but is now targeting 50,000 metric tonnes.

Mbilizi said the government is committed to ensuring that cotton farmers in major producing areas, including the northern region, Salima, Nkhotakota, Mangochi, Chikwawa and Nsanje, can produce the crop on a commercially viable scale.

She said the government wants Malawi to regain its former position in cotton production and assured farmers that the ministry would continue working through the Cotton Council to rebuild the industry.

The ambitious target, however, will depend on whether farmers can access quality seed and other inputs at affordable prices, issues that remain central to the future of Malawi’s cotton industry.