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COTTON ISSUES - BY MATONGO MAUMBI

By Matongo Maumbi -Tonga Bull

It is really true how farmers are suffering at the hands of these multinational companies and the government giving a deaf ear to their plight.One thing that would surely help (cotton) farmers is the establishment of Farmers' Clubs where they can be having a VOICE unlike the many voices that are there from single farmers. It is high time the farmers set the price for their produce. How can one labour out so much and then someone just comes to set the price for you? It does not make any sense at all. When the Kwacha gained value, inputs were still pegged at the latter value. It's surprising how these companies would want to buy the produce at the current value. This is a profit to them, and BIG loss to the farmers.Our government is also not supportive. It needs to subsidise these farmers for them to compete favourably with the world market.Farmers should get together in their locale, and make decisions that companies shall follow. And not the current scenario where they just wait to be told what to do.One farmer, Ben Chatembwa, in Pemba produces tobacco, and he now no longer get loans because "the companies were reaping where they did not sow." He found it better to reduce the hectarage of his field so that he uses ONLY his money. In this way all the profits (or losses) are his, and he shall only be answerable to himself.Have these multinational companies come to the aid of our local farmers or have to come to reap where they have not sowed?Government wake UP. Protect your people.

Comments

Dabwiso said…
I see no reason why multinational companies should determine the price of a commodity they did not produce.These multinational companies are here to contribute or promote high poverty levels in Zambia, they are frustrating efforts being made by PF government to reduce poverty levels.

Let me remind you that, apart from getting profits from lint, they are also getting huge profits from cotton seed which they are selling at $270/ton, this is raw material for producing cooking oil. They are at the same time producing cooking oil using low grade cotton seed

Let the government take a no nonsence stance on this issue, we want our locals to benefit from their sweat.
10:46 AM
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