Clothing sector importing more than 45 percent of its fabric

Zimbabwe’s clothing sector is importing more than 45 percent of its fabric requirements after local cotton output fell by over 60 percent in the last three years as farmers moved to more viable cash crops, an industry official has said.

According to the Cotton Ginners Association, Cotton output fell to 136 million kg in the 2013/14 season from 145 million kg the previous year, compared to 350 million kg in 2011/2012.

During the 2013/14 season, Zimbabwe recorded its lowest level of cotton output in four years, as farmers shifted from cotton production to better paying crops such as tobacco.

“The value chain has been broken and we are importing more than 45 percent of our fabrics. Besides, we are also importing cotton as our farmers do not produce enough. Only 10 percent (of farmers) if not less are still trying to produce cotton,” said Crispen Mugova, a director with Main Protective Clothes.

“Importing fabric and cotton is very expensive. It also takes about four months to deliver and per year one can get only three deliveries. We cannot rely on local supplies because there is no consistency. As such, our production has been affected.”

Mugova, who is also the Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce chairperson for Matabeleland, said local firms were looking for export markets, particularly Mozambique to escape competition from cheap imports products from China and other countries.

In April last year, the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (Comesa) and the European Union availed 4.2 million euro under the Zimbabwe Cotton-to-Clothing Strategy to improve capacity of local cotton and clothing sectors.

The programme, which runs up to 2019, would help small and medium enterprises in the sector by granting them access to the bloc, duty and quota free.

Recently, agriculture minister Joseph Made said  government had stepped up support to cotton producers in the current season, with the aim to improve yields and quality by distributing seed, fertilisers and pesticides to 350 000 farmers.-The Source

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