The people who help farmers grow cotton in Zimbabwe have given out lots of cotton seeds. These seeds can grow cotton in many fields across the country. By February 6, six big companies had shared seeds with 158,551 farmers who will grow cotton.
These farmers have already planted most of their fields with cotton. Some companies, like Alliance, AVC, and ZCC, have planted more cotton than they first planned, while other farmers working with different companies have planted exactly what they expected.
The biggest cotton company, Cottco, has helped more farmers than it thought it would. It gave seeds to 111,754 farmers, more than its goal of 104,500. However, the amount of land these farmers planted is less than what Cottco wanted.
Cottco made a new way to share seeds with farmers this year. Mr Mutenha, who runs Cottco, said they put farmers into different groups based on how well they grew cotton before. The best farmers can grow cotton on four or more fields. Medium farmers use one to three fields, and smaller farmers use less than one field. Cottco also works with young people, women's groups, schools, churches, and prisons to grow cotton.
The cotton plants are growing nicely, but they started late this year. Most of the plants are still small and young. Some have tiny leaves, others have bigger leaves, and a few have started making cotton balls. Mr Mutenha thinks farmers will have good cotton crops if it keeps raining in February and March.
Mr Chindanya, who knows a lot about cotton, agrees the plants look healthy. He said farmers planted their cotton at different times because the rain came late and didn't fall everywhere at once.
These farmers have already planted most of their fields with cotton. Some companies, like Alliance, AVC, and ZCC, have planted more cotton than they first planned, while other farmers working with different companies have planted exactly what they expected.
The biggest cotton company, Cottco, has helped more farmers than it thought it would. It gave seeds to 111,754 farmers, more than its goal of 104,500. However, the amount of land these farmers planted is less than what Cottco wanted.
Cottco made a new way to share seeds with farmers this year. Mr Mutenha, who runs Cottco, said they put farmers into different groups based on how well they grew cotton before. The best farmers can grow cotton on four or more fields. Medium farmers use one to three fields, and smaller farmers use less than one field. Cottco also works with young people, women's groups, schools, churches, and prisons to grow cotton.
The cotton plants are growing nicely, but they started late this year. Most of the plants are still small and young. Some have tiny leaves, others have bigger leaves, and a few have started making cotton balls. Mr Mutenha thinks farmers will have good cotton crops if it keeps raining in February and March.
Mr Chindanya, who knows a lot about cotton, agrees the plants look healthy. He said farmers planted their cotton at different times because the rain came late and didn't fall everywhere at once.
