Although a number of farmers have abandoned cotton production owing to low prices, farmers unions are convinced the shift will not do much to affect production.

Zimbabwe National Farmers Union vice president Mr Garikayi Msika said in an interview yesterday that they were anticipating more cotton to come from the traditional growing areas.

"The cotton crop is looking good and we expect good yields this season in areas such as Dande, Gokwe and Muzarabani," he said.

"Over 200 000 hectares of the crop have been planted."

Zimbabwe Commercial Farmers' Union vice president Mr Johnson Mapira said there was need for financial and educational support to farmers to boost cotton production.

"The money could be used to buy new technological equipment to improve the quality of the crop hybrid and more research stations need to be set up," he said.

"Like the previous years, there is still need to continuously promote cotton growers to boost the textile industry. We need to catch up with China, one of the leading cotton producers in the world."

There was no joy for cotton, maize and wheat farmers this season as producer prices remained low, forcing them to switch to the more lucrative tobacco crop.

The favourable price of tobacco attracted many farmers, especially those who had been growing cotton. If this practice continues, it will further affect cotton production which has dropped by 48 percent due to the low prices.

A ZFU official said some companies were fuelling side marketing as they were buying cotton whose growing they did not support.

The Agricultural Marketing Authority has since advised registered buyers of cotton to pay prices above the agreed prices in line with the market dictates.