Difficult to assure good cotton price - Minister

The recent fluctuations in the international cotton prices have made it difficult for Swaziland’s Ministry of Agriculture to guarantee good cotton price for the next crop season. This was announced by Mr. Clement Dlamini, the country’s Minister of Agriculture while inaugurating the ginning of cotton for the new season.

The Minister, however, assured the cotton growers that the price for cotton would be announced by the Ministry, once the conditions turn favourable.

It is difficult to predict the behaviour of the external forces that influence the price of cotton, especially when the harvesting season is near, he said.

It should be possible to give assurance to the farmers that they will not get prices less than what they got this year, if the conditions were favourable, but it cannot be promised, he added.

The Minister asked the farmers to seek advice from extension officers of his Ministry for efficient production of cotton. He told them that they can even take guidance from other organizations including some of the agro-chemical industries.

He advised cotton cultivators to reduce their cost of production by purchasing the inputs in bulk by forming cooperative groups that oversees its members’ welfare.